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.”
Sunday, September 30, 2007
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)