Your throne is IMMEMORIAL - Psalm 93

I promised someone I would start updating this consistently since I deleted my facebook.

Soon.

In the meantime, watch this:

Sacrifice

Col 1:24-25 -- I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.

Often there are times when I read two verses that are next to each other and wonder why God pushed the person to write them in that order.

Why next to each other?

What do they have to do with each other?

Paul quotes something similar in his second letter to Timothy, who is actually helping him write this letter to the Colossians, in the second chapter:

"If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him."

This is the entire message of the gospel, which is even included in the third chapter of Paul's second correspondence to Timothy that anybody who even holds the desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.

"So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me."

Paul counted it such a blessing to be persecuted in the trips he took. The partial message is everlasting life. The "entire message" includes a persecution and hatred from the world that clearly Paul was overjoyed to possess.

Living to die? Dying to live?

"For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die." Phil 1:20

It's an amazing accomplishment to know that in someone's death, they can actually make as much of an impact if not more than when they were alive. Since his death, Michael Jackson has sold over 2 BILLION albums. If he's really still alive, this was the greatest hoax the world has ever seen. Much like if Christ is really did, that would be an even larger hoax. Paul says that even in his own death, the life he had led would bring honor to Christ. Can we honestly say that about ourselves?

"For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live."

After losing a good amount of the mentors I would consider most noble and respectable already in life, I can honestly say your life can shine bright. However, your death can shine brighter. Sadly, nobody remembers the charitable, kind, good spirited man who picks a fight with the wrong person. Then again, people often remember those young in their pursuit towards caring for the world who leave us when we're not ready.

The difference is is the consistency. Paul hits the nail on the head and hopefully reminds us to keep hammering away when he says, "I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die."

Keep hammering away, just as you have. And expect, and hope that you never have a sore thumb.

Worship

I'm going to let this one speak for itself.

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, my God and king, and praise your name forever and ever.

I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.

Not the typical...

Nothing profound today.. just a thought.

"If you feel you have been excluded from the Bible, please write your way back into it."

That's what a Scottish gallery is encouraging visitors to do.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/2669187/Gallery-invites-visitors-to-deface-Bible

Read the article, and if you can, the comments. Post your thoughts.

Is it art? Is it sacrilegious? What needs to be said of the people participating in the exhibit, if anything? What else do you think about this exhibit?

I hope that we as adults can get along here. Play nice. No arguing.

There is no off season

"With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity."

This is Ephesians 4:17-19. It's kind of redundant to say that, but I say it to make the point that we look at this and we quickly say "Wow I would hate to be those kind of people" And we eagerly read the following:

"But that isn't what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned about the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception."

We get all encouraged thinking about this because we say "Yay! We're good people!" and we forget the important part. We're not good people. We're NEW people. Re-read the part that talks about your (and my) former life. "Which is corrupted by lust and deception".

The few times we really see this is when we're around others who seem to still be a little late to the New People Express that day.

"Oh gosh, Sally has a gossip problem, she talks about everybody behind her back" (which is always an incredibly ironic form of gossip)

"Dave is always so angry, he NEVER thinks before talking, he just says whatever comes first to his mind"

Why do we revert back to this? Why don't we revert even further. Back to the way we were supposed to be. Pick up God's word and read the final part:

Instead, Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And "Don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quiet stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

My mommy said never talk to strangers..

Here are some of the dumbest questions in the world:

What Pokemon are you? Could you survive a Zombie infection? Are you a potato? How asian are you? How fat will you be in 20 years? How many seconds will you last in a fight against Chuck Norris? What Crayon Color are you? What kind of librarian are you? Are you a mac or a PC? Which Hogwarts teacher are you?

That's right. Facebook quizzes. EVERYBODY hates them. If you don't, I probably blocked 99% of what you put on my minifeed. Not because I don't love you, but because these quizzes should be fairly easy!

Are you a potato? No! You have fingers to click on this quiz, potatoes don't have fingers!

How asian are you? "I'm asian." You are asian!

What kind of librarian are you? "I'm a janitor" The not-librarian kind of librarian!!!

By no means am I about to go on to say "If you fill out facebook quizzes you don't love Jesus." It's a non-necessary social networking cite. I have the log in my eye too, don't worry.

However, the massive amounts of quizzes does lead me to believe that we're quickly forgetting who we are. Ephesians 2 says: So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself." (verse 19-20)

Some of you have that feeling of not feeling like you belong, even with your own family. I'm sure there are people out there who do take facebook quizzes just to feel like they're as famous as their favorite celebrity/pokemon/zombie (I'm finding research that says they're all the same). Or when they're in a relationship they know is wrong, that facebook says they are loved and will be together forever. It's rough to see that quiz pop up and then see them break up a week later (sorry if you're one of those).

Why don't we just stand content in ourselves, as Paul says earlier in the chapter, "For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus". That's a family I'm very comfortable to be a part of.

Discipline

Mitch Anderson. This is a name I have grown accustomed to over the past week and a half. Since nobody here knows who "Mitch Anderson" is, let me clarify.

Elder Anderson. An Elder in the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Sufficed to say, I do not agree with the large majority of what Mormons believe or have to say about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Every ounce within me could never come together to believe that I can vicariously on behalf of my ancestors earn their salvation for them. Or that Baptism is 100% necessary for salvation. Or that there is no Hell. For those who might not read this blog consistently, let me tell you, there is a God who wants to be with you every day for nothing else than the sacrificial heart that accepts the gift of his Eternal Life (See Isaiah 55:1-2, John 3:16, Romans 3, 6, 10)

Nevertheless, Mormons do something that the (ironically enough named) Evangelical church is not doing anywhere close in comparison to. Evangelizing. More over, most if not all God-commanded discipline. I found out earlier today that Mormon services do not include one facet that I would say the large majority if not all Protestant Churches include.

"Worship through giving" (Read: Tithe, Offering, "Donation" as some would call it)

They just know to give. To their church, mail it in, bring it to the administration, what have you. The ironic part, since 1820 have you ever heard of LDS enduring financial hardships? Have you ever heard of Bringham Young University going through monetary troubles like Liberty University, or other Christian Colleges?

I know a church that in an attempt to focus more time in corporate praise, nixed the popular "place the plate" idea and set up two towers at the entrance of the room. The result? Little to nobody gave. Where is our discipline? Where is our joy in giving? James says "For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like"

Without that dedication and worshipful giving, how can Godly men and women of this world truly care for the people who need it? The "pure and genuine religion" as James says... caring for those in distress. I hope we can all find the discipline within us to give our time, our strength and yes, our money to those who truly need it.

Early to bed and early to rise..

I've noticed something in the passing years. Something that I never truly equated until the past week.

The closer I am with God, the cleaner my house is.

Yes, I'm serious. But does this come from an actual spiritual principle? Well it just so happens in my reading Galatians today I noticed something a little more closely.

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thereis no law against these things!" (Gal 5:22-23)

I understand generally our spiritual discipline is something that is indicative of our relationship with God, but what about the stewardship of the earthly things God has given to us? Self-control? I would have never thought when I was younger that this spiritual principle included maybe going to bed at a reasonable hour so you're well rested to be energetic and a good missionary and encouragement at your job. Maybe it includes a clean car to offer comfortable transportation to the needy. Maybe a clean house to be hospitable to those who have nowhere to go? Maybe instead of eating out, going grocery shopping to have more food for whoever is hungry.

Where are you exercising self-control? Where is your sacrifice, or your meekness? You can tell alot about a person by how clean their room is, apparently.

Everything!!

The beatitudes. One of the most challenging parts in all the Bible. How exactly are we supposed to live up to the standard of being poor in spirit, mournful of evil, humble in spirit, thirsting of justice, merciful, pure, peaceful, of light and of salt, and neither angry nor lustful in even our thoughts?

It's funny that I would never think to look for an answer guide to this passage. With all these commands, a map almost, you would never think to search for where Jesus is really trying to bring us. It's hard to focus on fourteen thousand things of God when your mortgage is due, you can't find the time to go grocery shopping (so you eat out all the time and spend more money), or you're too busy to pray over small and large things for yourself let alone others.

Jesus clearly gives us the directions, but the destination seems almost hidden. Anyone searching at the end for the answer clearly has read too many math books. He almost hides it in the middle of his sermon. Most people would say the golden rule is the destination "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you (Matt 7:12). I would disagree.

There's a common saying among Christian women. "A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her." Anyone who actually takes this to heart is understanding a fundamental that many, myself included, have missed. Matthew 6:33: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

As a very wise friend of mine once said, "If you don't have it, then you don't need it yet." All you need is the fervent desire to search for the things of God. Everything is second place.

"Servant"?

If anybody would know a lot about being changed up and serving someone, my guess would be the Apostle Paul. On numerous house arrests or imprisonments, the guy knows what it's like to "serve".

He also knows a thing or two about being incredibly blunt. In the first chapter of Galatians, Paul comes right out and says "If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed" (Verse 9)

It's hard to love different people when that's supposed to be your response. If they teach something different, may they be cursed. What I would say is the most important part of this chapter and what I would argue that entire letter to Galatia is the rationale he gives subsequent to this.

"Obviously I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant"

Who are you really trying to please? Are you trying to please your friends by drinking yourself to a point where you think you're a cooler person to be around? Are you trying to please people by using the kind of language that (as my father would say) is "Unintelligent and a poor vocabulary"?

Or you are you trying to serve the one person that served you through life and death by dying to yourself, and truly living?

Being a servant doesn't seem so bad.

Where is the Love?

It's hard not to judge a book by it's cover. If the cover happens to have a fluffy bunny on it, and says "How to Feel Loved", most people are going to be intrigued. If it has a picture of a very boring person and it says "The Denotative Encyclopedia of Contemporary Information Technology Jargon" and happens to look like it's made out of scrap metal, not many people are going to be interested.

If someone smiles a lot, physically fit, and happens to be a beautiful looking person, let's face it, most people would approach them faster than they would someone who is staring at the wall and looks like they have eaten nothing but bear claws and bon bons for about 14 years straight.

The apostle Paul would probably dare say that these people are one in the same.

As read by Jordan Henderson:

2 Corinthians 5:14 says: Christ's LOVE has moved me to such extremes. His LOVE has the first and last word in EVERYTHING we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focus center, that one man died for EVERYONE. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included EVERYONE in His death, so that EVERYONE could be also included in his life: a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision, we don't evaluate people by what they have, or how they look. We looked at the messiah that way once, and we got it all wrong (as you know), and we certainly don't look at Him that way anymore. Now we look inside and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is create ANEW. The old LIFE is gone, a new LIFE burgeons! All this comes from God who settled the relationship between us and Him, and then called us to settle our relationships our with each other. God put the world square with Himself through the Messiah, giving the world a FRESH START by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling EVERYONE what He is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things RIGHT between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now. Become friends with God. He's already a friend of you. How, you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put RIGHT with God.

Who cares about the cover? Who cares about the pages, the ink on them, or the words they make, moreover? Why don't we care about what's behind it all? Why don't we help the route of the problem, to make sure that the words, the story, and the covering over it all is bound together for the purpose of Love?

Set Apart...

In the book of Numbers, we find an overwhelming amount of record keeping being done. Enough that would make a tax collector dizzy and an accountant nauseous. In the first and second chapter specifically Numbers records that the Levites were a special people.

God commands Moses to count everybody in the tribes of Israel. Easy task. He counts the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Judah... everybody's there. Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh... things are looking good. Benjamin, Dan, Asher... those will all be great names for people in the future, I'm sure Moses thought. Gad and Naphtali. All set!

What about Levi? Almost like the President was introducing his cabinet and forgot to introduce the Attorney General or the Secretary of Education. They're all important people!

But God says "Nay! You are not counted with the others because you are Holy. You are to be set apart for my tabernacle and its care. That's why you're not counted. You're not included not because you're not important, but because you're very important."

Cute old testament story, who cares, it doesn't apply to us. But the problem (and really the solution) is that it still does.

1 Peter 2:9: But you are not like that (a person meeting their own fate), for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

We are the Levites, living among a giant caravan of aliens in a distant land and somehow we have been set apart to share the goodness of God with others. But notice the condition! You being a royal priest is the condition, showing others the goodness of God is the RESULT (or, read cause and effect).

The result of not living up to your name? In the Levites' case, you don't do your job and people get killed (Read 1 Chronicles 13). Where are you not doing your job? Where are you not living up to your name? How are you not keeping yourself set apart, as according to the command of the Royal Priests?

He remains, He endures, He outlasts.

Sadly I know many people who get to repititious parts of the bible and skip over it. I do know, however, that there are so many places where in the bible the writers could have added superfluous "How crazy awesome is that?!" lines in a large amount of places. Psalm 136 is one of those places where the writer actually does that. The "His love endures forever" Psalm.

After every section, why not trying to add in your own "God is so awesome!", "How are you so good?", or "Thank you so much Lord!"

Add your superfluous vernacular. And praise Him! Because His unending love and abundant mercy and goodness never stops!

"O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! O Give thanks to the God of Gods, O give thanks to the Lord of lords, to Him who alone does great wonders, to Him Who by wisdom and understanding made the heavens, to Him Who stretched out the earth upon the waters, to Him Who made the great lights, the sun to rule over the day, the moon and stars to rule by night, to Him Who smote Egypt in their firstborn, and brought out Israel from among them.

To Him who divided the Red Sea into parts, and made Israel to pass through the midst of it, but shook off and overthrew Pharaoh and his host into the Red Sea.

To Him Who led His people through the wilderness, to Him Who smote great kings, and slew famous kings, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and gave their land as a heritage even a heritage to Israel his servant.

To Him Who earnestly remembered us in our low estate and imprinted us on His heart, and rescued us from our enemies.

To Him who gives food to all flesh, O give thanks to the God of heaven!"

Our God REIGNS!

Psalm 93

 - The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.

Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.

The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

 - Your throne, O Lord has stood from time immemorial.

You yourself are from the everlasting past.

 - THe floods have risen up, O Lord.

The floods have roared like thunder,

the floods have lifte dtheir pounding waves.

 - But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,

mightier than the breakers on the shore--

the Lord above is mightier than these!

 - Your royal laws cannot be changed.

Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

The Cross..

I want to touch the feet of He,

Whose blood was poured out for me

When darkness was all I could see.

I want to hold the hand of His,

Who was pierced my sin

While I was in the depth of it.

God let us not forget...

The power of cross, the power of the cross,

To make us new, and to draw us near to you.

The power of cross, the power of the cross,

To open up our eyes, to give abundant life.

Embracing accusation

This is all I have for you today.

The praise that God saves us in the midst of our sins.  That while in the midst of our sins, while we are naked and left barren in the streets, he covers us.  The enemy can cast no stone that can break the bonds of our salvation.  Satan cannot harm us more potently than God can heal us.  He cannot attack in overwhelming power of God's defense.  There is no doubt that can deny God's firm stability, reliability, and unchanging nature.  There is nothing undone that God cannot redo and nothing done that God cannot undo.

Watch this video and let it be blessing to your soul.

A friend in need.

Romans gives us a pretty clear picture in terms of what we're supposed to do for other people.

Everything.

We give it our all.  If it is physically possible it says in Romans 12:18, live at peace with everyone.  You should take notice that in that verse it does not say, "If you get a chance to, live at peace with those who are peaceable." Instead, it says "If possible, as far as it depends on you", which for those who don't speak old archaic languages means "If it is in your power to obtain, or in the realm of physically capabilities or possibilities".

Then it continues to humble us further saying "live at peace with everyone".

It's hard for some people to live at peace with others.  It's especially hard when you have the commandments of God telling you not only love them, but that you owe it to them.  In Romans 13:8 Paul says "Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another.  If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law."  We take a sharper turn down spiritual alley and we say something even more alien to our society: Not only should we take all efforts possible to love one another, but we owe it to them.  Forget the money we owe, the economy we're in and our mortgages.  Love one another.  Love is your debt.  May we always try to pay it with abundant interest.

Woe is me!

After Isaiah's epic encounter with God, it reveals one thing: things are not as they seem.  After the angelic chorus rings and the entire temple starts shaking, Isaiah's reaction is a worshipful "Woe is me!"  How filthy I am, compared to God.  He realizes he is nothing and everything he knows in this world is a sham compared to the majesty of God.

Isaiah 6:5,7: Then said I, Woe is me!  For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! And with [a hot coal from off the altar, the angel] touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your inequity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.

Only after we experience God, TRULY experience his magnificence in a pure way, can we fully realize who we are in relation to Him.  We realize our follies and our mistakes, and immediately realize our necessity for Him.  When we see God, we see who we are.  And when we see who He is, we see exactly who we're not.  But the glorious news is that he is God and able to forgive all who are repentant.  May we search for God, with the fervent expectation that we will see Him, then see exactly how we can be more like Him.

What if?

Regret is something that plagues today's society.  We look at the things we've done and we say "If only I had been wiser.  Smarter.  More patient.  There's SOMETHING I clearly missed."  I can't honestly say that regret is something that's biblically healthy.  However, reminiscing, or even reflecting upon the glory of God is something that most certainly is healthy.  David himself realized this and wrote innumerable times about how God had delivered him from the hands of the enemy.

Psalm 124:1-5: What if the Lord had not been on our side?  Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?  They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.  The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.  Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.

He knew it!  He not only knew his life wouldn't be the same without God, he knew exactly what would have happened.  He knew the tumult and the destruction of life would have completely overwhelmed his mortal soul.  But with God, and only from God, can we succeed from the dangers, destruction, death, and evils of this world.

Psalm 124:6-8: Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!  We escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap.  The trap is broken, and we are free!  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Relief

Psalm 122:1-3: I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached.

How often are we truly enjoying the refuge of God? Like getting caught in a rainstorm, our first instinct is to head for shelter.  To get to SOMETHING that is away from the destruction of water.  It's funny to watch dozens of people try and cram themselves under one canopy in the city.  Their quickly fleeting hope that the are promised some of this shelter from the world falling down around them.  Well, I can say you are indeed promised shelter from your world falling down around you.

Ultimate what is best is our undying devotion and desire to run to God for shelter.   There is never "not enough room" and we are all comfortable at once under his shelter.

Psalm 121:5-8: The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.  The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.  The lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.  The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Great in All the Earth!

Isaiah 6 depicts a beautiful picture to us.  Like a horror scene where you back up and find yourself face to face with a psychotic man is the level of amazement of Isaiah.

"In a vision, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the most holy part of the temple." (Isa 6:1)

The very fringes of his fabric FILLS the holiest parts of an already holy temple.  Like sustenance so potent even the crumbs fill the biggest of appetites.

"[The Seraphim] cried to another and said, "Holy, holy holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isa 6:3)

The entire EARTH is filled with his glory.  In the most real sense, if the understanding that a heavenly temple is filled with the glory emanating from the threads of God's robes is too lofty to understand, the whole tiny planet that will live on itself is full of His glory.

The Wilderness

Luke 1:80

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

It is in the wilderness where we grow.  It is apart from the noise, the banter, the distractions, the enveloping technological invasion and ultimately our comfort where God finds us as a barren child.  He finds us surviving off honey and clothed in the skins of animals that we must work to overcome.  Our food is guarded, our meals are scattered and our shelter comes only from toil and work.

It's where everything is stripped from us where God can prepare us.  From then, in His timing, we are revealed.  We are often not ready to be revealed.  A masterpiece still in the works, as we wait on the finishing touches, or maybe the middle ground, or maybe our first foundations.  If we were ready to be revealed, the celebration of the Lord's construction would have already taken place.

Only through the wilderness are we prepared.  Only in his timing are we revealed.  Only for His glory are we celebrated.

Lucrative

For most of us, the economy we find ourselves in seems to be failing.  Whether or not you're American, things haven't been going quite right on a global scale for a little while now.  Now between you and me, I've been offered 3 jobs in the past 3 months, one of which I never even applied for, so I don't personally see what the hoopla about this giant "depression" some people are calling it.  More importantly, I've been realizing lately the importance of money.  More specifically, valuables.  Which brings me to my point.

I've come across quite possibly the most challenging verse I've encountered in my short time following this Jesus guy.  Out of the few parts of the Bible we tend to skip over, that gruelingly long chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119 I would venture to say is one of them.  Not only in its length but in its content.  Being that I've been reading through the Psalms for quite a while now I'm not sure whoever wrote these words (if it really was Ezra like some people think, I'm coming for you buddy when I get to heaven).

2 - - Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.

14 - - I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.

24 - - Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.

40 - - I long to obey your commandments!  Renew my life with your goodness.

47 - - How I delight in your commands!  How I love them!

72 - - Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.

I have a problem with these verses.  The problem is that I can't do them.  I'm not joyful when I begrudgingly obey the speed limit, the fact that I know I could be making more money elsewhere, or being in love with any laws or commandments.  I'm a man; I'm in love with money, cars, and pretty girls.  Not that I truly know what love is concerning any of those matters.

Everytime I look at a dollar bill at this point I see that "In God we trust" and it reminds me.  When it comes down to it, all our fears, worries, sins, and failures all stem from the fact that we don't trust God enough.  We don't trust that when we give financially to God that he won't multiply it and bless us.  We don't trust that when we quit our job to go be foot soldiers of the gospel he will provide.  We don't trust that when we go on that date that he will either bring two special people together or protect our heart from those who don't need it.

The next time you reach for your wallet, your purse: In God we trust.  His words, his instructions are more valuable that millions in Gold or Silver.

Shalom, selah.  Andrew.

Hey, everything's right tonight.

Here's an excerpt from what God gave me today:

 - Praise the Lord!  I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.

 - Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.  High righteousness never fails.

 - He gives food to those who trust him; he always remembers his covenant

 - He has paid a full ransom for his people.  He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.  what a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

 - When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.  They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

 - Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

 - They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

 - They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

So far this calender year and continuing on into the end of the summer, I'm looking at my best friend (the man to your left of me in the picture) moving from my home here in Virginia to Jacksonville, FL, along with numerous other friends whom have graduated college this semester, who happens to be getting married as well, along with numerous others whom I have spent a lot of time with over the past 4 years.

The #1 thing God has been teaching me lately is that if I'm not content where I am, I will not be content if something changes.  If I'm sitting at home lamenting I have nothing to do, then I will not be happy if somebody calls me to go to a party (the legit kind, not the drunken kinds, kiddos) or see a movie.  If I am with people and I'm not enjoying my time, I'm not going to be more content setting things on fire or shooting off fireworks with them.

Ultimately, if I'm not content coming home to an empty house, with no comfort, no conversation, and no warmth, when will I ever be content?

Today I was excited to come home.  If nothing else but the warmth of my bed and God-given rest, I was excited.  Maybe there's something inherently wrong with me (as I sit here with dress pants, a t-shirt and sandals on if any indication of my level of normalcy), but with nothing else to bank on for the rest of my life but what the wonderful fellowship I experience on Sunday mornings at Thomas Road and the camaraderie of the people I work with at Liberty University Online, I would say I'm content.

The most important part I would say in the contentedness I have found is trying to remember who God has made me.  It's also been the hardest part.  Amos Lee has a good addendum to this......

Sometimes we forget who we got, who they are.  Oh, who they're not.  There is so much more in love, than black and white.  Keep it loose child, gotta keep it tight. - "Keep it loose, Keep it tight"

The questions I've been asking lately.

 -  Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.

But as for me, I almost lost my footing.  My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

They seemt o live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

They don't have troubles like other people; they're not plagued with problems like everyone else.

They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.

These fats cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!

They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.

They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.

And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.

"What does God know?" they ask.  "Does the Most High even know what's happening?"

Look at these wicked people-enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

 -  Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?  Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

 -  If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.  But what a difficult task it is!

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.

When you aise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dream in the morning.

 -  Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.

I was so foolish and ignorant-I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

 -  Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Soverign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Psalm 73.

Instrumental

I have been blessed with the friendship of very wise people. I don't think I write things down enough because I forget a lot of the wisdom people impart to me. It's pretty pointless to listen to wise people if you don't remember what they say. This one, however, struck a "chord" with me (you'll get that joke in a moment).

"Worship ministry has little to do with the instrument in your hands and EVERYTHING to do with the people you're leading." - Travis Doucette

An instrument is defined as "a means by which something is effected or done". This opens up the definition to mean a musical instrument, a surgical instrument or a person being used as an instrument. I agree with Travis. Some of the most spirited filled and fruitful times of corporate worship I've seen have come from a cappella music, or times that have instrumental accompaniment but it is far less "busy" in terms of what corporate worship has become in most of today's local churches. We have a large majority of our generation that think corporate worship cannot happen without electric guitars, drum sets and sweet synthesizers rockin out like David Crowder*Band (not that there is anything inherently sinful or wrong with any of those things).

I am a firm believer that when you are leading a group of individuals regardless of what position you're in, you need to take into account the group of people you're leading. I have a friend who is in a position of leadership at a Christian College who is about to hire other leaders that not only she will lead, but who will in turn lead others. I am the worship director for a ministry that has an extensive leadership skeleton in place. Just like myself, my friend, any pastor, or anyone else in a position of leadership, choices who affect others can be an instrument as well. It is an interesting place in life to realize that you are an instrument of God. Not so much as being manipulated like some host to some cosmic parasite but like a guitar, or a clarinet.

I like to think I'm a Cello.

Ephesians is a glorious book filled with lots of instruction on how the body of Christ should function. It's no wonder that we could find a beautiful illustration here on how we are viewed by God. In verse ten, Paul reminds us,
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

I thought I wanted to elaborate on this, but I don't think it's really necessary. So I'm going to leave you with another excerpt God brought me last night. I think this wraps up what it is to be an instrument better than I could ever say.

Romans 6:1-13: What shall we say? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's grace may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the father, so we too might habitually live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be one with Him in sharing His resurrection by a new life lived for God. We know that our old self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that our body which is the instrument of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. For when a man dies, he is freed from the power of sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, because we know that Chris, being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. For by the death He died, He died to sin ending His relation to it once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God in unbroken fellowship with Him. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God living in unbroken fellowship with Him in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions. Do not continue offering or yuielding your bodily members and faculties to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to perpetual life, and your bodily members and faculties to God, presenting them as instruments of righteousness.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Creator. Wait, what?

So sue me. I was never good at cliches, anyway.

There are certain things people can do or say to automatically make people cringe. For instance, if I say the words "Eyeball" and "Papercut" within the span of three to four minutes, I have a dear friend whom at other times while appearing quite manly, in this situation will scream like a second grade girl who just had worms put in her hair. I have the fortune of being friends with numerous nurses and people who have worked at hospitals. I have a pretty strong stomach, but one of my friends told me a story of a guy who was high on crystal meth. Those are always interesting stories because people on crystal meth usually have some kind of inhuman strength. This particular story involved a man ripped out his various IVs and attached medical equipment. Just reviewing the words I just wrote makes me cringe and cradle my arms.

For anyone who has read the second book of Samuel in the old testament, we have a similar reaction when we hear the name Tamar. We have a more sympathetic reaction, but it's the same feeling that rends our heart with empathy for this woman. In an opposite reaction, we hear the name Amnon and we are filled with anger. A ironic hatred for someone named "Faithful".

In chapter thirteen we are introduced to this woman named Tamar.

v. 1-2: Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon [her half brother] son of David loved her. And Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick for his [half] sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible for him to do anything to her.

Most bibles translate the description of Tamar as "Fair". But "yapheh" in Hebrew means "Beautiful, Handsome". In the verses following, Amnon devises a plan to rape Tamar. God in his sovereignty, however, clearly gives Amnon a way out of the deed multiple times. In verse four it says Amnon's friend Jonadad had to actually ask Amnon what was going on. Amnon didn't just go around talking about it. He kept it to himself which was obviously the smarter choice. In verse nine when Tamar brings Amnon food she doesn't go according to the plan. Instead of putting herself in a situation where they would be alone she took the pan and "emptied it out before him". In verses twelve and thirteen Tamar refuses again trying to reason with Amnon, warning him that he will "be considered one of the stupid fools of Israel" and that if he truly loved her to "speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you". Not only is he given a chance to silence the problem, and repent privately, but he is given a chance to let the opportunity pass by, repent publically, and then he's handed the invitation to still get what he wants in a law abided way! Who wouldn't do that?!

Needless to say Amnon refuses. Set in his boorish ways, Amnon is faithful, but sadly he is faithful to his "troubled sickness". Not only does Amnon disgrace her, but then he rejects Tamar and sends her away alone and desolate. And Tamar to the best of our knowledge stayed alone. In verse twenty it is said that Absalom tells Tamar to "take not this matter to heart". Oh it will be fine! You've just lost your virginity by force and been shamed by an entire nation to stay lonely the rest of your life. What a hopeful situation. The verse continues to say that Tamar remained in Absalom's house, a desolate woman. Desolate here is the word "shamem"m which means deserted. It's no guess that she was left alone after this. She probably grew to be an old woman, with no husband but only surrounding herself with women with a broken trust and a leper like standing in society.

Thankfully, that's not the end of Tamar.

In the remaining fifty-six books of the bible Tamar is mentioned once. Soon following this event and after Absalom takes his revenge against Amnon, killing the rapist, Tamar is mentioned in a short aside. I'm sure just as any daughter Tamar often went to her father in times of trouble asking the question, "Daddy, am I beautiful?" I'm sure after the event with Amnon she might have been afraid to ask that question. I'm sure she was afraid of what the answer might be. I'm sure in her own mind there was no point in asking because she already knew the answer. Well, she knew what she thought the answer would be.

In verse twenty-seven of the chapter directly after her rape, Tamar is unveiled again. Not as a recovering victim. She is not unveiled as an old, broken woman imbittered towards the male gender. She is not even unveiled as a woman of acceptable stature from years of repentence and pardon from the Head Priest.

There were born to Absalom three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a beautiful woman.

In the completely restoring manner that God often grants us, Tamar is counted beautiful. After the troubles she has been thrown upon, after the disgrace shown to her, and after her father denies the importance of her sorrows, she is called beautiful. To a testament of God's restoring power in her life as well as ours, one thing stands out like a sore thumb. The word in this sentece that we translate into "beautiful"? The word the writer uses is "yapheh". If you aim your eyes to the first verse of the previous chapter you'll find that the same word that describes the essence of who Tamar is before that life-shattering and soul crippling event is the same word that she is called after.

"Daddy, am I beautiful?"

I bet she was never ready to hear the same word afterwards.

S.N.O.W.

I don't think the word "snow" accurately describes how awesome it is. You have this glorious invention of God that comes down at a leisurely pace and changes everything. Regardless of how dense it might be it always seems like it's strolling along, like each flake is walking hand and hand with their romantic counter-part on some cosmic journey to the ground below. The only time we really think of snow as being violent is when we're driving. But then we get out of the car, look around, and realize it's not so bad after all. We've been worrying about this devastating thing that's nothing more than water that's a little colder than it's used to.

The best thing about snow, though, is it's ability to change, as I said. Colors don't exist in snow because everything changes to white. I drove today from Lynchburg, Virginia to Johnstown, Ohio. The trip started off with no snow, no ice, but bright sunshine and fairly warm air. The further and further I ascended the cooler it became and the thinner the air felt. There's some sort of refreshment that comes from thin, cool air when it hits your lungs and your body has the shock that feels like walls being erected against some invaded force. Then when you finally expel that air you see the invaded forces being repelled by this weaponry of foggy breath, spreading out in all directions. I love when it's so cold you can see your breath. It's almost like a unique signal to only God knows what. Other people? The trees? God himself? Whatever our smoke-signal-like breath is it's unique, if nothing else.

The further I departed north the more colors began to fade. The browns of trees, the lighter branches, the emerald grass and the black road began to become grey-toned. Eventually everything just became white. With darkness settling in the ability to see colors at all lessened especially with the white particles hugging closely to every fiber of creation. For just a short amount of time, everything is the same. The World becomes almost like a communism of creation where all is pure, all is true and everything is equally lovely to look at. I long to live in this world where seldom do we see color, but always the white pure look of this colored glass that dances down to the ground where it makes its home for a short time. Only long enough for our eyes to take in its beauty and then before we know it, the greens have returned along with the tall browns and tans, soon to be sprouting green offspring of their own. Upon which will soon perch blues, reds, and even orange spheres with their darkly colored wings, singing for us their anthem of color.

Responsibility? What's that?

One of the wisest men I know once said "All our lives are won and lost between our ears. Our greatest battles, struggles, temptations and how we choose to live is all contingent on what's in our mind." What happens when your mind is in turmoil? When you're tired and aching making what normally is your source for intelligence, wise decision making skills is rather effected. It's these times where I thank God for His Spirit. That he can take control over my incessant ramblings and express the unexpessable. He can describe the indescribable. He shouts my thoughts and praises when I'm struck speechless. He comforts me when I am uncomfortable. Most of all he saves me when I am wrapped up in myself. When I look at God and believe that this ruler is anything shy of the amazing Lord of my life. The loving Master whom I serve.

Clayton King is an evangelist who travels all over the world preaching the gospel unabashed and without apology. His teaching of the word last week during Liberty's Spiritual Emphasis Week brought with it a question of allegiance: "Who is Lord?" In your financial life, who is Lord? Does Jesus deserve the allegiance of your wallet? More importantly than the question of whether or not he deserves such allegiance, does he possess that allegiance? Jesus' deserving of our total and allegiance sadly does not always warrant the answer of whether or not he has it. James says those with divided interest and half-hearted allegiance is like a wave tossed about. When I first think of this analogy I give the wave too much credit, believing that such a thing would be powerful and useful for something at least. The realization comes to me that power without direction is nothing but destructive.

The only thing a brutal wave is good for is erosion. The land masses that we have that guide is when we are adrift in sea slowly get whittled away as we let the waves of our misguided interests slam against the shores like thousands of slow chisels sculpting away at our lives. The great memorial for the things God has done and the lands he has built get eroded the more we let these waves go unsettled. James also goes further to say that our tongues are a part of our lives that need desperately to be tamed. In our lives where we are aimlessly adrift in the restlessly crashing waves our boat is controlled by a rudder that is our tongues. When our tongues are amidst the words of the world and the language of those who do not declare Jesus to be their Lord, our tongues abandon our set course and drive for us. Much like the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked our tongues will similarly leave us destroyed, abandoned and without a vessel to carry us further.

Once again, though the question arises: "Who is Lord?" The funny thing is, our greatest enemy is our free will. That we have the choice to say yes or no. Because all of creation knows. And James says that the Demons know, too. Luke tells us that not only does creation know Jesus is their Lord but they clearly obey him. In Luke's Good News he brings us to the disciples conversation in chapter eight when they ask, "Who is this man, that commands the wind and water? And they obey!" And there's only one answer to the very similar question, "Who is Lord?". Who IS this man who is the commander of life, the blesser of finances, the keeper of security, the creator of creation and the Word who is on our tongues? Jesus is Lord.

A smile from a friend

I think I really do walk through life not considering how awesome God is. Everyday God gives us opportunity to love him a little bit more and I would usually consider this a complete joy. The only problem is, how many times do I completely miss it? It almost makes me want to cry at the thought of there are so many times when I completely ignore something special God has sent just for me and I don't even notice. It's like a wife sending her husband a card and him not even reading it.

There are days that are rough. Today was one of those days. There are some days you just need to drive. I'm one of those people that just goes when he's having a bad day. If I'm angry, I'll drive aimlessly until I've taken enough turns that I don't know where I am. Then by the time it takes me to figure out how to get back home, I will have removed all angry feelings from my system and thought logically. If I'm feeling bad I'll just drive in circles until physically I'm tired of doing the same thing and I can break down my exterior walls and be vulnerable. Thankfully, God has been granting me comfort long before that point that I can finally get up and walk again. As The Normals say in their song "We are Beggars at the Foot of God's Door", "We have asked to see Your face and noticed nothing, but a well timed honest smile from a friend. Oh we of little faith, Oh You of stubborn grace"

Thank you friend, whom cheered my spirits today. Thank you and may you keep following God and cheering others. Praise Yahweh, He who is the lifter of our spirits eternally.

As Cities Burn

Normally I would think it corny to post song lyrics... but I think these are things we all need to hear. These are all from As Cities Burn's latest release, "Come Now Sleep" They're all taken from various songs. The cries for the Grace of God are unmistakable and endearing. May we all cry for God's continual Grace this much. Maybe we would love him more; maybe we would love each other more.

Cause I was a pharisee,
I never saw my need for grace;
Then your love came to me
stood next to mine, and I saw that I was poor.

They say that good boys walk straight on white lines.
Good boys keep their livers clean,
And smoke out of their lungs.
'Cause it's all about what you've done,
Good boys don't make mistakes to learn from.

Grace make your way to the well,
To those who deserve it.
After all they've earned it.
But vain, it's in vain,
'Cause they don't need it.

we've got prices on our heads
and millstones around our necks
we try to live forgiven but they won't let us forget

forget about being honest
forget about being passionate
wear that smile like you feel it
even when you don't
forget about being honest
forget about being passionate
i think they forgot about Jesus
seeking us out

Is your love really Love?
Is my love really Love?
I think our love isn't Love,
Unless it's Love to the end.

Is your god really God?
Is my god really God?
I think our god isn't God,
If he fits inside our heads.

If I make it to heaven
I may be as bloody as hell.
Would you still take me?
I'm afraid that you might say,
"Depart from me, I never knew you."

I'm sure if you wanted to stop love,
You could just untie your end and let it go.
But, my God, you don't.
Yeah, I think I love you for it.

[a song about his friend Timothy dying]
Tell me I'm only dreaming.
Tell me he's just sleeping.
And when morning comes,
We'll both wake up to see the sun,
And love that's enough to keep our friends alive.


Sweet hearts of love and evangelism. The sweet and sometimes screaming melodies showing that any sound without love would not be as sweet. Cause I was a pharisee too... and I have realized that I am poor. The closer I get to the riches of God the poorer I see that I am. I hope that I am more poor tomorrow than I am today. That God may give abundantly, and that in my life I may live with riches that are not of this world and will never perish. That I will know my life and its blessings will outlast any words I have said or deeds I have done. And I forever hope that he gives me life and that I live in abundantly and in a manner worthy of the good news of Jesus Christ dying because he loves me.

John 10:10
Phil 1:27
1 Thes 2:12-13