My oldest granddaughter gave me a bookmark as a gift on Christmas morning and it touched my heart as a prayer to be prayed and lived out as a Normal Christian.
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
This simple prayer is attributed to St. Francis of Assissi.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Incarnation
During this time of the year when most Christians are thinking about the birth of Jesus, it is important to contemplate the meaning of the Jesus coming as a baby, as a man. The mystery of the Incarnation is Jesus, all God and all man. The Lord Jesus came as man to serve, to provide a way of salvation, to give His life to us.
Mark 10:45 (NIV) – "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
I picked up a new book about spiritual life and a quote from the author ‘jumped off the page’ at me.
The Divine Embrace, Recovering the Passionate Spiritual Life by Robert E. Webber
“In the incarnation God and man are united. In the incarnation God lifted humanity into union with himself in Jesus. The union humanity once had with God, lost in Adam, is now restored. God has restored union with humanity through his own two hands. God, the incarnate Word, united with our humanity by the Spirit, reverses the human condition through his death and resurrection.”
(P. 40)
Mark 10:45 (NIV) – "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
I picked up a new book about spiritual life and a quote from the author ‘jumped off the page’ at me.
The Divine Embrace, Recovering the Passionate Spiritual Life by Robert E. Webber
“In the incarnation God and man are united. In the incarnation God lifted humanity into union with himself in Jesus. The union humanity once had with God, lost in Adam, is now restored. God has restored union with humanity through his own two hands. God, the incarnate Word, united with our humanity by the Spirit, reverses the human condition through his death and resurrection.”
(P. 40)
Sunday, December 9, 2007
The Body Human (Part 1)
For a while I have looked for a book written by a medical doctor which would describe the human body and how intricately it is created. During the Thanksgiving holiday I borrowed a book entitled “What Darwin Didn’t Know” by Geoffrey Simmons, M.D. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I have found such a book.
I may get into the thesis of the book later, but for this post, I would like to provide a suggestion for the reader. I suggest we do not have to go out into nature (however this is a good thing to do) to be able to see the beauty of His creation. We have only to contemplate our bodies and how He created us to be able to breathe, walk, love, and do all the things which make us human. We can see His wonderful design. We can see His love for us.
The author provides an understanding of the intricacies of the human body when he writes, “The interior of the human body is a much busier place than New York City, London, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Bombay combined. Ten to seventy-five trillion cells participate in more than a quadrillion purposeful chemical interactions each day that help us walk, breathe, think, sleep, procreate, see, hear, smell, feel, digest food, eliminate waste, write, read, talk, make red cells, remove dead cells, fight infections, behave, misbehave, absorb nutrients, transport oxygen, eliminate carbon dioxide, maintain balance, carry on dialogue, understand instructions, argue, and make complex decisions, just to name a few common activities. In addition, each of these processes has dozens – and sometimes hundreds – of smaller, interacting steps, checks, counterchecks, balances, and regulatory mechanisms. And further, all of these steps have smaller chemical substeps. In many ways the human body functions like an extremely well-organized blizzard of invisible chemical responses and rapidly-changing electrical impulses. The human brain is a convoluted continent swept by microscopic electrical hurricanes and chemical tidal waves that somehow make sense out of reality on a microsecond-by-microsecond basis.” (P. 16)
Future posts will provide a deeper look into the creation of the senses and various systems of our body.
I may get into the thesis of the book later, but for this post, I would like to provide a suggestion for the reader. I suggest we do not have to go out into nature (however this is a good thing to do) to be able to see the beauty of His creation. We have only to contemplate our bodies and how He created us to be able to breathe, walk, love, and do all the things which make us human. We can see His wonderful design. We can see His love for us.
The author provides an understanding of the intricacies of the human body when he writes, “The interior of the human body is a much busier place than New York City, London, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Bombay combined. Ten to seventy-five trillion cells participate in more than a quadrillion purposeful chemical interactions each day that help us walk, breathe, think, sleep, procreate, see, hear, smell, feel, digest food, eliminate waste, write, read, talk, make red cells, remove dead cells, fight infections, behave, misbehave, absorb nutrients, transport oxygen, eliminate carbon dioxide, maintain balance, carry on dialogue, understand instructions, argue, and make complex decisions, just to name a few common activities. In addition, each of these processes has dozens – and sometimes hundreds – of smaller, interacting steps, checks, counterchecks, balances, and regulatory mechanisms. And further, all of these steps have smaller chemical substeps. In many ways the human body functions like an extremely well-organized blizzard of invisible chemical responses and rapidly-changing electrical impulses. The human brain is a convoluted continent swept by microscopic electrical hurricanes and chemical tidal waves that somehow make sense out of reality on a microsecond-by-microsecond basis.” (P. 16)
Future posts will provide a deeper look into the creation of the senses and various systems of our body.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Who God Is? Tozer
There are two Tozer quotes which have touched my heart for many years. This morning I was able to locate them in his books so I can feel good quoting them on this blog. They are delightful in reference to what the Lord means to me and you.
The Knowledge of the Holy, The Wisdom of God
“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack?”
The Pursuit of God, Removing the Veil
God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can without anything other than Himself meet and overflow the deepest demands and longings of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.”
My prayer is that everyone reading this blog will allow these words to penetrate their mind and their heart, bring them into their spirit where the Lord lives in them, and to continually practice His Presence and exercise their spirit. Amen!!!!
The Knowledge of the Holy, The Wisdom of God
“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack?”
The Pursuit of God, Removing the Veil
God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can without anything other than Himself meet and overflow the deepest demands and longings of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.”
My prayer is that everyone reading this blog will allow these words to penetrate their mind and their heart, bring them into their spirit where the Lord lives in them, and to continually practice His Presence and exercise their spirit. Amen!!!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 2)
A.W. Tozer The Pursuit of God
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 2)
Tozer writes, “I have said that Abraham possessed nothing. Yet was not this poor man rich? Everything he had owned before was his still to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds, and goods of every sort. He had also his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. . . . After that bitter and blessed experience I think the words “my” and “mine” never had again the same meaning for Abraham. The sense of possession which they connote was gone from his heart. Things had been cast out forever. His inner heart was from from them. The world said, “Abraham is rich,” but the aged patriarch only smiled. He could not explain it to them, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasures were inward and external."
Amen.
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 2)
Tozer writes, “I have said that Abraham possessed nothing. Yet was not this poor man rich? Everything he had owned before was his still to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds, and goods of every sort. He had also his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. . . . After that bitter and blessed experience I think the words “my” and “mine” never had again the same meaning for Abraham. The sense of possession which they connote was gone from his heart. Things had been cast out forever. His inner heart was from from them. The world said, “Abraham is rich,” but the aged patriarch only smiled. He could not explain it to them, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasures were inward and external."
Amen.
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 1)
If you read this blog very long, you will figure out quickly, I appreciate the writings of A.W. Tozer. I would like to spend a few blogs sharing one of my favorite chapters from Tozer.
A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 1)
. . . it would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril. Jesus called it “life” and “self,” or as we would say, the self-life. Its chief characteristic is its possessiveness: the words “gain” and “profit” suggest this. To allow this enemy to live is in the end to lose everything. To repudiate it and give up all for Christ’s sake is to lose nothing at last, but to preserve everything unto life eternal.
The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These are the “poor in spirit.”
Later in the chapter Tozer states, “As is frequently true, this principle of spiritual life finds its best illustration in the Old Testament. In the story of Abraham and Isaac we have a dramatic picture of the surrendered life as well as an excellent commentary on the first Beatitude.”
Tozer goes on to describe in how Abraham became a ‘love slave of his son.’ He writes, “As he watched him grow from babyhood to young manhood the heart of the old man was knit closer and bordered upon the perilous. It was then that God stepped in to save both father and son from the consequences of an uncleansed love.
Tozer continues by describing the story in Genesis 22 of Abraham and Isaac going to the mountain to offer a sacrifice with the idea that Isaac was going to be the one sacrificed, however after Abraham was obedient enough to perform the sacrifice, the Lord provided a different sacrifice. During this time, Abraham surrendered his love for Isaac to obey the Lord. Tozer writes, “Now he was a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. He had concentrated his all in the person of his dear son, and God had taken it from him.”
Stay tuned
A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 1)
. . . it would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril. Jesus called it “life” and “self,” or as we would say, the self-life. Its chief characteristic is its possessiveness: the words “gain” and “profit” suggest this. To allow this enemy to live is in the end to lose everything. To repudiate it and give up all for Christ’s sake is to lose nothing at last, but to preserve everything unto life eternal.
The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These are the “poor in spirit.”
Later in the chapter Tozer states, “As is frequently true, this principle of spiritual life finds its best illustration in the Old Testament. In the story of Abraham and Isaac we have a dramatic picture of the surrendered life as well as an excellent commentary on the first Beatitude.”
Tozer goes on to describe in how Abraham became a ‘love slave of his son.’ He writes, “As he watched him grow from babyhood to young manhood the heart of the old man was knit closer and bordered upon the perilous. It was then that God stepped in to save both father and son from the consequences of an uncleansed love.
Tozer continues by describing the story in Genesis 22 of Abraham and Isaac going to the mountain to offer a sacrifice with the idea that Isaac was going to be the one sacrificed, however after Abraham was obedient enough to perform the sacrifice, the Lord provided a different sacrifice. During this time, Abraham surrendered his love for Isaac to obey the Lord. Tozer writes, “Now he was a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. He had concentrated his all in the person of his dear son, and God had taken it from him.”
Stay tuned
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
How much do we Love the Lord? Part 3
Spurgeon Morning and Evening 9/3/07 – AM
Song of Solomon 1:7 “Thou whom my soul loveth”
Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us.
Why do we love Jesus? Because he “gave himself for us.”
We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood.
Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.
Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person.
We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms!
a consciousness of his infinite perfection!
His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims,
“Yea, he is altogether lovely.”
Blessed love this—a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!
Song of Solomon 1:7 “Thou whom my soul loveth”
Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us.
Why do we love Jesus? Because he “gave himself for us.”
We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood.
Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.
Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person.
We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms!
a consciousness of his infinite perfection!
His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims,
“Yea, he is altogether lovely.”
Blessed love this—a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
How much do we Love the Lord? Part 2
I do not know where I read this, but an author asked a question of Christians about our patriotism. If we would be patriotic enough to suffer and even die for our country, how much more would we do for our Lord? This was a very convicting question for me. What about my family? I know I love them enough to suffer for them and even die for them. Am I willing to do this for the Lord.
In the book by Dennis Miller, Searching for God Knows What, on page 203-204 he provides an interesting take on actions we take when we are in love. He states, “I’ve a friend who has a leather-bound day planner, and on an inside page of the planner there is a space for facts about a spouse: her dress size, her favorite foods, her favorite music. Amazingly, this is not a page my friend created on a blank sheet of paper; rather, he bought it from the company that makes the time-management system. We laughed together at the oddity of the idea of trying to calculate, plan and structure knowledge that would be meaningful to a woman only if her husband knew it, as a consequence of his love. The whole point of intimacy is that you want to know things, random facts; you are driven to them because this woman has taken you captive, not that you would write them down as a matter of discipline. Imagine calling your wife to tell her you love her and then hanging up the phone to check off the action on your to-do list.”
How many of us treat the Lord like this? Again, I am convicted by how many times I pray, read, go to Church out of duty, to have the ability to mark off what I have done for the Lord.
Lord, I pray for a fresh love in my heart for you. One which shows I will ‘call you’ to tell you I love you, because of my want to make you happy. I want to die to myself for you. I want to love you with all my being. And also, move this love for my family, friends, co-workers and all mankind. Like in Luke 10:27, I want to live the two Commandments. “He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'*; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'*" Amen.
In the book by Dennis Miller, Searching for God Knows What, on page 203-204 he provides an interesting take on actions we take when we are in love. He states, “I’ve a friend who has a leather-bound day planner, and on an inside page of the planner there is a space for facts about a spouse: her dress size, her favorite foods, her favorite music. Amazingly, this is not a page my friend created on a blank sheet of paper; rather, he bought it from the company that makes the time-management system. We laughed together at the oddity of the idea of trying to calculate, plan and structure knowledge that would be meaningful to a woman only if her husband knew it, as a consequence of his love. The whole point of intimacy is that you want to know things, random facts; you are driven to them because this woman has taken you captive, not that you would write them down as a matter of discipline. Imagine calling your wife to tell her you love her and then hanging up the phone to check off the action on your to-do list.”
How many of us treat the Lord like this? Again, I am convicted by how many times I pray, read, go to Church out of duty, to have the ability to mark off what I have done for the Lord.
Lord, I pray for a fresh love in my heart for you. One which shows I will ‘call you’ to tell you I love you, because of my want to make you happy. I want to die to myself for you. I want to love you with all my being. And also, move this love for my family, friends, co-workers and all mankind. Like in Luke 10:27, I want to live the two Commandments. “He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'*; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'*" Amen.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
How much do we Love the Lord? Part 1
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Oct. 22 AM
How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. . . . . Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honour Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus.
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Oct. 22 AM
How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. . . . . Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honour Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus.
Monday, November 5, 2007
C.S. Lewis on Giving
WARNING: Do not continue reading this post unless you want to be convicted and see another level of Christian giving.
C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity provides the best way to know if we are giving enough of our money to the work of the Lord and for His kingdom. (P.82)
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of “charities” in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbours, or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position.”
Wow, we would have to call on our faith in Him to provide. Amen.
C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity provides the best way to know if we are giving enough of our money to the work of the Lord and for His kingdom. (P.82)
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of “charities” in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbours, or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position.”
Wow, we would have to call on our faith in Him to provide. Amen.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Family and Youth Ministry
In my class at Tabor on Family and Youth Ministry we studied a book on family based ministry and I would like to share a couple of paragraphs from the paper I wrote on it. The most important point I want to make is the last sentence which I have bolded.
Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries
Before I provide the thesis of the book, I would like to spend a paragraph sharing what the author thinks is a crisis in the youth ministry of many Churches. The author states the ways youth ministry is being developed and implemented in most Churches does not provide the foundation for the young people to become mature in Christ. His concern is that the young people are becoming ‘reactive Christians.’ He states, “. . . they are constantly waiting for someone or something to attract them, to involve them, to impress them. A reactive Christian always puts the responsibility for his or her spiritual life on someone else.” (p. 28) This crisis does not allow for the young people to mature in the faith to a point that becomes their faith. It is not becoming a faith that they own and fight for against all the ‘anti-Christian’ movements in society.
I think the best synopsis of the thesis presented by the author is stated in the introduction when the he writes, “One of my working assumptions is that the contemporary crisis in youth ministry has little to do with the programming and everything to do with the families.” (p. 17) The author then spends the rest of the book defining how the family is the most important factor in a young person’s life for helping them appropriate a faith of their own. It was interesting and encouraging to me when he made comments such as the most important things a parent could do is to talk about their faith in the home and bring the young people into ministry with them.
Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries
Before I provide the thesis of the book, I would like to spend a paragraph sharing what the author thinks is a crisis in the youth ministry of many Churches. The author states the ways youth ministry is being developed and implemented in most Churches does not provide the foundation for the young people to become mature in Christ. His concern is that the young people are becoming ‘reactive Christians.’ He states, “. . . they are constantly waiting for someone or something to attract them, to involve them, to impress them. A reactive Christian always puts the responsibility for his or her spiritual life on someone else.” (p. 28) This crisis does not allow for the young people to mature in the faith to a point that becomes their faith. It is not becoming a faith that they own and fight for against all the ‘anti-Christian’ movements in society.
I think the best synopsis of the thesis presented by the author is stated in the introduction when the he writes, “One of my working assumptions is that the contemporary crisis in youth ministry has little to do with the programming and everything to do with the families.” (p. 17) The author then spends the rest of the book defining how the family is the most important factor in a young person’s life for helping them appropriate a faith of their own. It was interesting and encouraging to me when he made comments such as the most important things a parent could do is to talk about their faith in the home and bring the young people into ministry with them.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Web sites for the Family
Web sites for the Family
I am a firm believer in the idea of the family as the main influencer of children’s movement toward the Lord. To this end, I would like to offer some websites or stories in the next few days which I have found very supportive of this mindset.
Article on Celebrating Spiritual Milestones
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D166281%252526M%25253D200824%2C00.html?emid=95
Here is a portion of this article.
Scriptural Spiritual Milestones - Throughout Israel’s history, numerous events held such great importance that the Lord designated them as celebrations, festivals, and days of faith practice to commemorate spiritual milestones. In doing so, He established a time when parents could highlight spiritual milestones for their family, both personal and extended. From the Passover (which celebrated the time Israel survived the plagues) to the Jewish celebration of a child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah (the recognition of a child’s progression into adulthood), events held spiritual significance. Each one involved the family in the celebration of their significance as persons of God. The example that God gave us is one that is worthy of repetition, even in today’s busy family.
Personal Spiritual Milestones
What are some of the significant spiritual experiences or milestones in your life? You may have been involved in some of these.
- Attending church for the first time
- Celebrating Jesus’ birth (Christmas) and resurrection (Easter) with church friends
- Learning various Bible elements (names of the books, disciple’s names, Paul’s
missionary journeys)
- Becoming aware of and discussing your spiritual condition
- Making a personal, individual decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ as your
Savior and Lord
- Obeying Jesus’ instruction by following Him in baptism
Others are listed in the article which also has suggestions of how to celebrate them.
I am a firm believer in the idea of the family as the main influencer of children’s movement toward the Lord. To this end, I would like to offer some websites or stories in the next few days which I have found very supportive of this mindset.
Article on Celebrating Spiritual Milestones
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D166281%252526M%25253D200824%2C00.html?emid=95
Here is a portion of this article.
Scriptural Spiritual Milestones - Throughout Israel’s history, numerous events held such great importance that the Lord designated them as celebrations, festivals, and days of faith practice to commemorate spiritual milestones. In doing so, He established a time when parents could highlight spiritual milestones for their family, both personal and extended. From the Passover (which celebrated the time Israel survived the plagues) to the Jewish celebration of a child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah (the recognition of a child’s progression into adulthood), events held spiritual significance. Each one involved the family in the celebration of their significance as persons of God. The example that God gave us is one that is worthy of repetition, even in today’s busy family.
Personal Spiritual Milestones
What are some of the significant spiritual experiences or milestones in your life? You may have been involved in some of these.
- Attending church for the first time
- Celebrating Jesus’ birth (Christmas) and resurrection (Easter) with church friends
- Learning various Bible elements (names of the books, disciple’s names, Paul’s
missionary journeys)
- Becoming aware of and discussing your spiritual condition
- Making a personal, individual decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ as your
Savior and Lord
- Obeying Jesus’ instruction by following Him in baptism
Others are listed in the article which also has suggestions of how to celebrate them.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Prayer in Jude
A prayer from Jude to the brothers and sisters in Christ and to the Lord.
Jude 1:20 -25 (The Message)
20 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.
23 Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating -
25 to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.
Jude 1:20 -25 (The Message)
20 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.
23 Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating -
25 to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Christian Work and Worship?
What is Christian Work?
I had the privilege of painting the outside of my house this weekend and before I started it, I thought to myself it would be a time of mindless work which would allow me to pray, praise the Lord and think on some ideas I have been contemplating. After a while of painting I realized, I was not doing this, but was spending all my time thinking about the preparation of the wood and siding, concentrating on making sure the paint covered well and ensuring I was safe as I painted off of the ladders.
At first I was disappointed and felt I was missing an opportunity to be faithful to the Lord by praying and meditating on Him. However, I came to realize, the job I was doing was important (for the look of my house and the protection of its siding and windows) enough to call for my undivided attention. It became an act of worship for me to do a good job and use all my talents to make it so.
Questions came to my mind as I was contemplating this today.
1) How many times do we take this type of view in our jobs in the secular world?
2) Whether it is raising children, building airplanes, selling houses or taking care of ourselves in health matters, do we look at the ‘job’ as a act of worship by giving it all of ourselves?
3) Is this Christian work because I am a Christian doing it, or because I am doing it with acts and words which are Christian oriented?
I have my own thoughts, but want the Spirit to lead each of us to the answers.
I had the privilege of painting the outside of my house this weekend and before I started it, I thought to myself it would be a time of mindless work which would allow me to pray, praise the Lord and think on some ideas I have been contemplating. After a while of painting I realized, I was not doing this, but was spending all my time thinking about the preparation of the wood and siding, concentrating on making sure the paint covered well and ensuring I was safe as I painted off of the ladders.
At first I was disappointed and felt I was missing an opportunity to be faithful to the Lord by praying and meditating on Him. However, I came to realize, the job I was doing was important (for the look of my house and the protection of its siding and windows) enough to call for my undivided attention. It became an act of worship for me to do a good job and use all my talents to make it so.
Questions came to my mind as I was contemplating this today.
1) How many times do we take this type of view in our jobs in the secular world?
2) Whether it is raising children, building airplanes, selling houses or taking care of ourselves in health matters, do we look at the ‘job’ as a act of worship by giving it all of ourselves?
3) Is this Christian work because I am a Christian doing it, or because I am doing it with acts and words which are Christian oriented?
I have my own thoughts, but want the Spirit to lead each of us to the answers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Prayer
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional – Oct. 8, Evening
Jude 20: Praying in the Holy Ghost.
Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer-"In the Holy Ghost." The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him.
. . . praying in fervency.
It means praying humbly, . . . .
. . . we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, . . .
It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love-love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.
Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God's promise.
My prayer is for all to prayer in Spirit with fervency, humbly, out of the depths, lovingly and full of faith. Amen.
Jude 20: Praying in the Holy Ghost.
Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer-"In the Holy Ghost." The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him.
. . . praying in fervency.
It means praying humbly, . . . .
. . . we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, . . .
It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love-love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.
Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God's promise.
My prayer is for all to prayer in Spirit with fervency, humbly, out of the depths, lovingly and full of faith. Amen.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Joy of the Lord
Tozer Devotional
Collective Writings from the Books of A.W. Tozer
Sunday, October 07, 2007
The Next Chapter after the Last Chapter # Fifteen
The Christian's Obligation to Be Joyful
The Joy of the Lord
The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. In this day of universal apprehension when men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquillity that will be a little bit of heaven here below. All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance and thorough amendment of life. It assumes that we are walking in the light of truth, for true joy cannot be artificially induced. The "keep smiling" school of applied psychology is not even remotely related to the true faith of Christ. The chief fun of the comedian and the good humor of the wit who is the life of the party are like flowers growing on old graves, briefly interesting, but evanescent and always touched with sadness. But the fountain of Christian joy flows out from the throne of God, pure, refreshing and sweet everlastingly.
Prayer
O Lord, the reality of being Yours opens my heart to the flow of Your joy. Thank You!
Scripture
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
— John 15:11
Thought
It was Tertullian who said that the Christian saint is hilarious. The closer one comes to God, the more joy is experienced. Joy based not on circumstances or passing emotion but the joy of the Lord that comes from knowing Him.
Located at
http://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer/tozer.jsp
Collective Writings from the Books of A.W. Tozer
Sunday, October 07, 2007
The Next Chapter after the Last Chapter # Fifteen
The Christian's Obligation to Be Joyful
The Joy of the Lord
The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. In this day of universal apprehension when men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquillity that will be a little bit of heaven here below. All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance and thorough amendment of life. It assumes that we are walking in the light of truth, for true joy cannot be artificially induced. The "keep smiling" school of applied psychology is not even remotely related to the true faith of Christ. The chief fun of the comedian and the good humor of the wit who is the life of the party are like flowers growing on old graves, briefly interesting, but evanescent and always touched with sadness. But the fountain of Christian joy flows out from the throne of God, pure, refreshing and sweet everlastingly.
Prayer
O Lord, the reality of being Yours opens my heart to the flow of Your joy. Thank You!
Scripture
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
— John 15:11
Thought
It was Tertullian who said that the Christian saint is hilarious. The closer one comes to God, the more joy is experienced. Joy based not on circumstances or passing emotion but the joy of the Lord that comes from knowing Him.
Located at
http://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer/tozer.jsp
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Commune with God
This quote from Andrew Murray is one I read last week and it touched my heart.
The first and chief need of our Christian life is fellowship with God. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, as the sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that my soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God.
Andrew Murray
The Deeper Christian Life (an aid to its attainment)
The first and chief need of our Christian life is fellowship with God. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, as the sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that my soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God.
Andrew Murray
The Deeper Christian Life (an aid to its attainment)
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Creativity - #3 - Wisdom from God
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 New International Version (NIV)
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are,
29so that no one may boast before him.
30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are,
29so that no one may boast before him.
30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Anticipation in Worship
I have for many years enjoyed reading A.W. Tozer’s books and sermons. Let us meditate on the quote below and as we go meet with the Church tomorrow (Sunday) please let the anticipation of meeting with Him and the saints bring us a feeling of anticipation and all we can bring to it and receive from it.
Tozer from “God Tells the Man Who Cares” Pages 168,170
"One characteristic that marks the average church today is lack of anticipation. Christians when they meet do not expect anything unusual to happen; consequently only the usual happens, and that usual is as predictable as the setting of the sun... We need today a fresh spirit of anticipation that springs out of the promises of God. We must declare war on the mood of nonexpectation, and come together with childlike faith. Only then can we know again the beauty and wonder of the Lord's presence among us."
Amen!
Tozer from “God Tells the Man Who Cares” Pages 168,170
"One characteristic that marks the average church today is lack of anticipation. Christians when they meet do not expect anything unusual to happen; consequently only the usual happens, and that usual is as predictable as the setting of the sun... We need today a fresh spirit of anticipation that springs out of the promises of God. We must declare war on the mood of nonexpectation, and come together with childlike faith. Only then can we know again the beauty and wonder of the Lord's presence among us."
Amen!
Christian Music Lyrics #2
This song with so many names for the Lord gives me ‘goosebumps.’
John Waller, Album “The Blessing”
Song – Love to Say Your Name
Love to say Your name. Love to feel it falling from my lips.
Resonates with me. I love to say your names.
It’s the way they tell me who You are. And I believe.
I love to see darkness flee.
When I sing Elohim, my Creator.
Adonai, Lord, my Master.
My Provider, Jehovah-Jireh.
God of blessings, El-Shaddai.
I love to say Your name.
Love to say Your name.
Like a city on a hill, I will
Put them on display
Love to say Your name
There’s power and authority
Over my enemies
I love to see faces change when
When I sing Elohim, my Creator.
Adonai, Lord and Master.
My Provider, Jehovah-Jireh.
God of blessings, El-Shaddai.
I love to say Your name
El-Elyon, the Most High God
Jehovah-Shalom, the Peace of my heart
Jehovah-Rapha, God, my Healer
Jehovah-Shammah, never leaves us nor forsakes us
I praise Elohim, my Creator.
Adonai, Lord, my Master.
My Provider, Jehovah-Jireh.
God of blessings, El-Shaddai.
I love to say Your name.
I love to say Your name.
I love to say Your name.
I love to say Your name.
John Waller, Album “The Blessing”
Song – Love to Say Your Name
Love to say Your name. Love to feel it falling from my lips.
Resonates with me. I love to say your names.
It’s the way they tell me who You are. And I believe.
I love to see darkness flee.
When I sing Elohim, my Creator.
Adonai, Lord, my Master.
My Provider, Jehovah-Jireh.
God of blessings, El-Shaddai.
I love to say Your name.
Love to say Your name.
Like a city on a hill, I will
Put them on display
Love to say Your name
There’s power and authority
Over my enemies
I love to see faces change when
When I sing Elohim, my Creator.
Adonai, Lord and Master.
My Provider, Jehovah-Jireh.
God of blessings, El-Shaddai.
I love to say Your name
El-Elyon, the Most High God
Jehovah-Shalom, the Peace of my heart
Jehovah-Rapha, God, my Healer
Jehovah-Shammah, never leaves us nor forsakes us
I praise Elohim, my Creator.
Adonai, Lord, my Master.
My Provider, Jehovah-Jireh.
God of blessings, El-Shaddai.
I love to say Your name.
I love to say Your name.
I love to say Your name.
I love to say Your name.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Christian Music Lyrics #1
Modern Christian Music is something I enjoy listening to and allows me an opportunity to worship our Lord in the music and the words. I have enjoyed a couple of phrases from various songs and the words for a complete song. (Note: I grew up with albums. So in my lingo artists produce albums, not CDs. How is that for being old?)
The bolded, italicized phrase below is a prayer for myself and every Christian for every day.
Echoing Angels, Album “You Alone”
Song – Let Go
Chorus: Let go. Live for the moment. Reach out. That’s how you show it. Live because you care. Be an answered prayer.
I was swimming laps with Carol the other day and when I was in the deep end heading back for the shallow end this phrase below came to mind. “Deep water faith in the shallow end”
This may not be what the song writer was saying, but my thought was, in my life I spend too much time in the shallow end where it is easy to stand up when I get tired. In the deep end I can not stand up, but must trust my ability to stay a float. In life we need to get out of the shallow end of living a life which is safe and non-adventurous but must get into the deep end which is not safe and is full of adventure, where we must trust His ability to keep us.
Casting Crowns – Album “The Altar and the Door”
Song – Somewhere in the Middle
“Deep water faith in the shallow end”
The bolded, italicized phrase below is a prayer for myself and every Christian for every day.
Echoing Angels, Album “You Alone”
Song – Let Go
Chorus: Let go. Live for the moment. Reach out. That’s how you show it. Live because you care. Be an answered prayer.
I was swimming laps with Carol the other day and when I was in the deep end heading back for the shallow end this phrase below came to mind. “Deep water faith in the shallow end”
This may not be what the song writer was saying, but my thought was, in my life I spend too much time in the shallow end where it is easy to stand up when I get tired. In the deep end I can not stand up, but must trust my ability to stay a float. In life we need to get out of the shallow end of living a life which is safe and non-adventurous but must get into the deep end which is not safe and is full of adventure, where we must trust His ability to keep us.
Casting Crowns – Album “The Altar and the Door”
Song – Somewhere in the Middle
“Deep water faith in the shallow end”
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Creativity - #2
Continuing with a research paper previously written by this author:
James Sire in his book on Christians and the mind provides a listing of disciplines of intellect which could also be called disciplines of creativity.
They are as follows (with this author’s comments beside):
1) Solitude / Silence – Slowing down and letting the mind wander where it will is important.
2) Attention / Concentration – This author has used the 5 Ws (Why, Who, When, Where, and What) and 1 H (How) questions many times to provide a process for concentrating himself or a team on a specific question or problem.
3) Lateral thinking – or as a much used phrases state, ‘think outside of the box’ and ‘work toward a paradigm shift.’ One process used in the business world and I think we do not do it enough in the Church is brainstorming. A process which allows a group of people to use their minds to list answers to a specific question or problem.
4) Prayer – How many of us take time to prayer for wisdom or creativity as we begin a task of the mind?
5) Reading – As shown by the Ravi Z. question above, reading about diverse subjects assists in exercising the mind. (Sire, 127)
Sire, James W. "Habits of the Mind, Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling". Downers Grove: Intervaristy, 2000.
James Sire in his book on Christians and the mind provides a listing of disciplines of intellect which could also be called disciplines of creativity.
They are as follows (with this author’s comments beside):
1) Solitude / Silence – Slowing down and letting the mind wander where it will is important.
2) Attention / Concentration – This author has used the 5 Ws (Why, Who, When, Where, and What) and 1 H (How) questions many times to provide a process for concentrating himself or a team on a specific question or problem.
3) Lateral thinking – or as a much used phrases state, ‘think outside of the box’ and ‘work toward a paradigm shift.’ One process used in the business world and I think we do not do it enough in the Church is brainstorming. A process which allows a group of people to use their minds to list answers to a specific question or problem.
4) Prayer – How many of us take time to prayer for wisdom or creativity as we begin a task of the mind?
5) Reading – As shown by the Ravi Z. question above, reading about diverse subjects assists in exercising the mind. (Sire, 127)
Sire, James W. "Habits of the Mind, Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling". Downers Grove: Intervaristy, 2000.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Creativity - #1
I have always been interested in creativity and how/why some people seem more creative than others. In the next few posts I will be providing research I have accomplished and my thoughts on it.
One of my major papers at Tabor was on Christians and the Intellect. Here is an excerpt:
I was listening to Ravi Zacharias on his radio program last week during which he made a remark which surprised me so much, I missed the point of his sharing. He stated while reading the People magazine he learned a specific fact. I did not remember anything after his statement because I was trying to ‘get my brain around’ the thought of Ravi Z. reading People magazine. I consider Ravi Z. one of the few Christian intellectuals in the world today, so I asked myself, “Why was he reading People magazine?”
Two answers which came to me were: 1) He was reading it to understand where secular culture was and where it is headed or 2) He was putting diverse information in his mind which could be used later as a connection for a creative thought. The second answer reminded me of the research I have done on ‘creativity.’ The research revealed evidence that creative people read, talk, debate, and consider many diverse subjects or types of information. This exercising of the mind will provide many different ideas which can be used to create connections of diverse information into a new idea, a creative thought.
As I was contemplating the research on creativity and how Christians need to improve the use of the mind and develop Christian thinking, I was impressed by how similar the steps to develop creativity and the intellect are and how they need to be developed in Christians. Reviewing what Moreland provided as an important practice for developing the mind shows how close developing creativity is to it. He states, “It is no less true of becoming a deep, careful thinker in general exercised regularly, trained to acquire certain habits of thought, filled with an increasingly rich set of distinctions and categories.” This author believes the way a person acquires the ‘rich set of distinctions and categories’ is through the acquiring of diverse types of information and allowing it to be connected together during the exercising of the mind, which would be a creative thought. (Moreland, 104)
Moreland, J.P. "Love Your God With All Your Mind, The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul" Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997
One of my major papers at Tabor was on Christians and the Intellect. Here is an excerpt:
I was listening to Ravi Zacharias on his radio program last week during which he made a remark which surprised me so much, I missed the point of his sharing. He stated while reading the People magazine he learned a specific fact. I did not remember anything after his statement because I was trying to ‘get my brain around’ the thought of Ravi Z. reading People magazine. I consider Ravi Z. one of the few Christian intellectuals in the world today, so I asked myself, “Why was he reading People magazine?”
Two answers which came to me were: 1) He was reading it to understand where secular culture was and where it is headed or 2) He was putting diverse information in his mind which could be used later as a connection for a creative thought. The second answer reminded me of the research I have done on ‘creativity.’ The research revealed evidence that creative people read, talk, debate, and consider many diverse subjects or types of information. This exercising of the mind will provide many different ideas which can be used to create connections of diverse information into a new idea, a creative thought.
As I was contemplating the research on creativity and how Christians need to improve the use of the mind and develop Christian thinking, I was impressed by how similar the steps to develop creativity and the intellect are and how they need to be developed in Christians. Reviewing what Moreland provided as an important practice for developing the mind shows how close developing creativity is to it. He states, “It is no less true of becoming a deep, careful thinker in general exercised regularly, trained to acquire certain habits of thought, filled with an increasingly rich set of distinctions and categories.” This author believes the way a person acquires the ‘rich set of distinctions and categories’ is through the acquiring of diverse types of information and allowing it to be connected together during the exercising of the mind, which would be a creative thought. (Moreland, 104)
Moreland, J.P. "Love Your God With All Your Mind, The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul" Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Elaboration on Psalm 23
While I was reading the book entitled “Grand Weaver” by Ravi Zacharias, I found a very interesting elaboration on Psalm 23. He used it to show how the Psalms are used by the Lord to show us how He is supplies us all our needs.
From “Grand Weaver” by Ravi Zacharias, page 50-51
The Lord is my Shepherd - that's relationship!
I shall not be in want - that's supply!
He makes me lie down in green pastures - that's rest!
He leads me beside quiet waters - that's refreshment!
He restores my soul - that's healing!
He guides me in the paths of righteousness - that's guidance!
For His name's sake - that's purpose!
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - that's testing!
I will fear no evil - that's protection!
For you are with me - that's faithfulness!
Your rod and the staff, they comfort me - that's discipline!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - that’s hope!
You anoint my head with oil - that's consecration!
My cup overflows - that's abundance!
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life -
that's blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - that's security!
Forever - that's eternity!
AUTHOR OF ELABORATED MATERIAL UNKNOWN
From “Grand Weaver” by Ravi Zacharias, page 50-51
The Lord is my Shepherd - that's relationship!
I shall not be in want - that's supply!
He makes me lie down in green pastures - that's rest!
He leads me beside quiet waters - that's refreshment!
He restores my soul - that's healing!
He guides me in the paths of righteousness - that's guidance!
For His name's sake - that's purpose!
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - that's testing!
I will fear no evil - that's protection!
For you are with me - that's faithfulness!
Your rod and the staff, they comfort me - that's discipline!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - that’s hope!
You anoint my head with oil - that's consecration!
My cup overflows - that's abundance!
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life -
that's blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - that's security!
Forever - that's eternity!
AUTHOR OF ELABORATED MATERIAL UNKNOWN
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Art and Culture for His Glory
I had a nice surprise in my mailbox last week, the Sept. ’07 issue of the Christ-Community-Music (CCM) magazine.
In the editorial on page 4, Jay Swartzendruber shared his thoughts on his pastor’s sermon entitled “A Christian World View of Culture and the Arts.” His pastor, Scott Roley, stated, “. . . we are called as Image Bearers of God to reveal the good, true and beautiful image of the One Triune God throughout creation. . . filling the earth with God’s glory. If this is not the Biblical foundation for art, and all other callings in culture, what is?” The pastor continues, “. . . the word Christian is never used in the Bible as an adjective to describe something. ‘Christian’ is a person, not a descriptive word. . . a follower of Jesus, not the qualifier of a noun!”
Finally, he states, “. . . the Gospel-driven artist is actually called to create . . . Coram Deo (all unto the Lord). . . . praise to God as it fulfills the chief end for us all, ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
After reading this, I realized this is part of teaching I was provided on art and culture at Tabor College as I was earning my Christian Ministry degree. It has opened my mind to the possibilities for enjoying art and culture much more. I am excited about what the Lord will be showing me in the future on how art and culture can be used for His glory (even though I am not an artistic type of person).
In the editorial on page 4, Jay Swartzendruber shared his thoughts on his pastor’s sermon entitled “A Christian World View of Culture and the Arts.” His pastor, Scott Roley, stated, “. . . we are called as Image Bearers of God to reveal the good, true and beautiful image of the One Triune God throughout creation. . . filling the earth with God’s glory. If this is not the Biblical foundation for art, and all other callings in culture, what is?” The pastor continues, “. . . the word Christian is never used in the Bible as an adjective to describe something. ‘Christian’ is a person, not a descriptive word. . . a follower of Jesus, not the qualifier of a noun!”
Finally, he states, “. . . the Gospel-driven artist is actually called to create . . . Coram Deo (all unto the Lord). . . . praise to God as it fulfills the chief end for us all, ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
After reading this, I realized this is part of teaching I was provided on art and culture at Tabor College as I was earning my Christian Ministry degree. It has opened my mind to the possibilities for enjoying art and culture much more. I am excited about what the Lord will be showing me in the future on how art and culture can be used for His glory (even though I am not an artistic type of person).
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
From "Searching For God Knows What"
My recommendation for a book to read shown in the right column is one I have been enjoying for the last week or so. I will share the thesis and some points in the near future, but wanted to share a quote which ‘leapt’ off the page at me last night.
From Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, p. 46-47
“. . . if the gospel of Jesus is relational: that is, if our brokenness will be fixed, not by our understanding of theology, but by God telling us who we are, then this would require a kind of intimacy of which only heaven knows. Imagine, a Being with a mind as great as God’s, with feet like trees and a voice like a rushing wind, telling you that you are His cherished creation.
. . . God’s love, God’s voice and presence, would instill our souls with such affirmation we would need nothing more and would cause us to love other people so much we would be willing to die for them. Perhaps this is what the apostles stumbled upon.” Amen!!
From Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, p. 46-47
“. . . if the gospel of Jesus is relational: that is, if our brokenness will be fixed, not by our understanding of theology, but by God telling us who we are, then this would require a kind of intimacy of which only heaven knows. Imagine, a Being with a mind as great as God’s, with feet like trees and a voice like a rushing wind, telling you that you are His cherished creation.
. . . God’s love, God’s voice and presence, would instill our souls with such affirmation we would need nothing more and would cause us to love other people so much we would be willing to die for them. Perhaps this is what the apostles stumbled upon.” Amen!!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Why 2BNormal?
I have enjoyed reading Watchman Nee's books over the years and his book 'The Normal Christian Life' was instrumental in providing me an 'epiphany' in my Christian growth (story for a later post). In the first sentence of this book he asks, "What is the normal Christian life?" His answer is developed over the rest of the book, but the verse at the heading of this blog provides the short answer.
Nee writes, "The apostle Paul gives us his own definition of the Christian life in Galations 2:20. It is 'no longer I, but Christ'. Here he is not starting something special or peculiar - a high level of Christianity. He is, we believe, presenting God's normal for a Christian, which can be summarized in the words: I live no longer, but Christ lives His life in me."
My prayer for myself and others is for us '2BNormal' by God's definition of what a Christian is!!
Nee writes, "The apostle Paul gives us his own definition of the Christian life in Galations 2:20. It is 'no longer I, but Christ'. Here he is not starting something special or peculiar - a high level of Christianity. He is, we believe, presenting God's normal for a Christian, which can be summarized in the words: I live no longer, but Christ lives His life in me."
My prayer for myself and others is for us '2BNormal' by God's definition of what a Christian is!!
Monday, September 3, 2007
My first blog
Family and Friends,
This is my first post to my first blog. Please, pray I will be able to keep it up better than I have my journals in the past. I will be updating it as the Lord leads with family news, pictures, different books and music I have found interesting and what the Lord has been showing me through the Word, His Church, my experiences He has provided me and nature.
In Christ,
mike hearne
PS. The next post I will share the significance of the name of the blog. Hint: If you have read much of Watchman Nee, you can probably guess.
This is my first post to my first blog. Please, pray I will be able to keep it up better than I have my journals in the past. I will be updating it as the Lord leads with family news, pictures, different books and music I have found interesting and what the Lord has been showing me through the Word, His Church, my experiences He has provided me and nature.
In Christ,
mike hearne
PS. The next post I will share the significance of the name of the blog. Hint: If you have read much of Watchman Nee, you can probably guess.
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