Christians and Court
September 20, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
It definitely was a slow day yesterday, and it may be that way for me over the next few days. I’m trying to get my schedule down, but it is pretty full right now: Greek, Grasping God’s Word, preaching every Sunday plus the other responsibilities with Koinonia, a wife who would like to see me. Things are a bit crazy right now!
But I couldn’t help but think about a passage of Scripture as I read your last post on the “Christians” who sued the school. You know I tend to see things through a lens that always relates to a Bible verse, and it was the well-known verse from 1 Corinthians 6 that stuck out to me:
“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” (1 Cor. 6:7)
In the context the issue is lawsuits between Christian brothers who were taking their disputes before unbelievers. But I wonder if there is a principle here that stretches beyond the fellowship of believers? Jesus did say that in the world we will have tribulation, and we who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12). I wonder if refusing to exercise our American “rights” is one way to compel those who would see us to ask what is the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15)? Not many people ask me that, and maybe one reason is that I cling to my rights and have so conformed myself to our culture (except for really gross sin, like drunkeness and swearing!) that nobody can see I am hoping in something than different than everybody else.
Of course the real test of our faithfulness to Jesus is not in our abstaining from things like alcohol, but in living lives that look foolish if Jesus is not going to raise us from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:19). Maybe refusing the right to file a lawsuit is one thing that will point an unbeliever to the truth that we have a hope greater than what political freedom can give us.
Just some thoughts out loud here. Don’t take my ramblings here as truth!
Larry
Politics and the Christian
September 19, 2006 | 1 Comment
Lar,
So this has been a slow day for us huh? Maybe because we did too much talking face to face! I guess that means we need to stop that. Well, I am headed out once again tomorrow, so we’ll be back to our old selves (Lord willing). Well, because it is a slow day, I figured I would share a few thoughts from some reading I have been doing lately.
As you know, I am taking a distance course from PSU, Comm 403 Mass Media Law. It is interesting–not as interesting as theology–but interesting nonetheless. I won’t go into detail, but we have to do a good bit of reading for the course (as always in school). One aspect of our reading is the reading of court cases that involve freedom of the press or free speech in general. One of the cases I read involved a “Christian” young man who went to school with a T-shirt that pointed out the shamefulness of homosexuality. Long story short, it was what the school called “A Day of Silence” one that was supposed to teach tolerance for those of another sexual orientation.
Well, this student felt that the mere presence of this day was wrong– that is was designed to show their acceptance of homosexual practices. I won’t go into detail as to whether or not he was right or wrong. In this instance, it didn’t seem to be the administrators motives, but I can understand where he is coming wrong. Apparently, they had had some difficulties, fights, harsh words, etc. between students, so they chose to embrace this day to cultivate some ‘unity’ or something. I don’t know fully, but it is definitely my opinion that it wasn’t the greatest move. I have to think you could come up with some better ways to solve that problem. I would start by inviting a Christian preacher in to preach the gospel–to both the homosexuals and the arrogant “Christians” who were making fun of them (that is, to everyone b/c we all need it!).
Anyhow, this kid goes to school with a shirt that says, “Be ashamed: our school has embraced what God has condemned” on the front and “Homosexuality is shameful, Rom 1:27″ on the back. Interesting for sure. I don’t picture Jesus wearing it, but he wore it and would probably call himself a Christian. Well, the administrators did all they could to get the kid to take it off. He refused and chose to sit in the office for the day. Obviously, the prinicipal and others were concerned with some responses to such a shirt. Well, the kid and his parents sue and the school and some Christian attorneys come to his aid. The court battle goes on and ends up deciding in favor with the school. I think it was a good decision.
But here is what struck me and fired me up a bit: this is not an isolated incident. This is how thousands (millions?) of Christians approach politics. They think they have to ‘fight for their rights’. But I ask, what were they fighting for here, but the right to wear an offensive shirt? We are a sad sight. There is a reason we resort to political ambitions and court battles (which are fine in their proper context). I think in the end it is because we are so spiritually weak. The church lacks power. We lack influence, so we try to gain it the world’s way, with the world’s means. Of course, this is not to say that we shouldn’t fight political or social battles. It is simply to say that these should come second. The reality is it doesn’t matter how many court cases we win or lose, if the salt loses its saltiness, how will it be restored?
I could go on Lar (and there is much more to say about this case), but we need to think about this stuff. How are we to engage the culture of our day. In a thousand ways, no doubt, but first and foremost, let us remember that if we give more time to the culture and less time to God, we don’t serve anyone well. Our first and foremost responsibility as Christians–for ourselves and the world–is to love and live for God. It is to so walk with Christ that homosexuals and other sinners are attracted to Him. O might the Lord make us salty and bright again.
Think about it Lar, what if that kid, instead of walking in with an offensive shirt, chose the path of love, of service, of sacrifice just like our Savior? What if just one would do it in such a school? No court case is needed. The sacrificial love of Jesus is attractive to all. Rights? Let’s learn to set aside our so called rights. Let’s learn to die to self so that we might live and lead others to Jesus. May the Lord send His Spirit soon to humble His church and show the world His beauty!
Seeking the death that brings true life,
Joe
Yea…
September 19, 2006 | Leave a Comment
I’m with you Lar. It’s out! For the most part, it has probably been used in a derogatory sense, so it is best. We by no means want to use words that could make another stumble. I’m looking forward to hearing a few more words from you. Until then, let’s meditate upon this (I think this is my text for preaching this Sunday),
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
I can’t wait until that day when I will really get the glory of that truth. The substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ is so sweet that we will celebrate it forever! But until then, let us meditate upon it until we fall our faces in adoration of our God and Savior. Praise the Lord for the righteousness of Jesus Christ!
In His perfection,
Joe
A Quick Word
September 19, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Perhaps I will get a chance to write a bit more this afternoon, but if not let me just say briefly that I hereby put to rest the term “micromanagment” as a description of God’s character. I think majesty, sovereignty, dominion and authority will work just fine!
Larry
A Quick Word on Micromanagement
September 18, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
One more thought before I call it a day for blogging. The Scriptures are clear, this I know. The hairs of our head are numbered. Not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of our heavenly Father (Matther 10:29). This is ‘micromanagement.’
But what struck me is why? Why does God micromanage? I believe that the answer is simple. He is infinitely jealous to manifest the fullness of His infinite glory. And this infinite jealousy leads Him to do all that He must to fulfill that one, great, glorious, all-satisfying end. The Lord will not settle for a half-hearted manifestation of glory. He is jealous to manifest His glory fully in the whole of human and redemptive history. This requires micromanagement. And ‘micromanagement’ really is a bad term. Sovereignty is more biblical and better.
Isn’t it humbling that most evangelicals today need to learn from the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar? He said, “his dominion is an evelasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the eath; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:34-35)
Amen Neb (that’s what his friends called him). Let’s embrace it and respond with humble adoration for our great and glorious King! God’s micromanagement is beautiful, b/c the manifestation of His glory is beautiful! I love the ‘micromanagement’ (that is, sovereignty) of God! Let’s worship brother! Let’s adore our Sovereign King together.
Exalting in His ‘micromanagment’ with you,
Joe
Micromanagement
September 18, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
You can tell it’s Monday by my number of posts today; I trust I’ll be slowing down as my week gets going. Your thoughts stirred a couple of more in me, but maybe I’ll write a bit of that tomorrow. What struck me was in your post, the mention of Yancey’s view that God does not micromanage the universe. I couldn’t help but think of Matthew 10:30, “But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”
If numbering the hairs on the head of every human who has ever lived isn’t micromanaging the universe, I sure don’t know what is!
Serving the Blessed and Only Sovereign with you,
Larry
For What They’re Worth
September 18, 2006 | 1 Comment
Lar (and Re),
Here are a few things. First, thanks Lar for pointing us to that book review by Tim Challies. The Lord has blessed him (and us!) with solid discernment. I am thankful. Incidentally, for those interested, he has started a website entitled Discerning Reader. Essentially, the site is full of book reviews. I probably wouldn’t agree with every detail on there, but then againn, I don’t have all the answers? Most of them are pretty solid for sure.
Anyhow, I found his review of Yancey’s book to be more than fair. I read quite a bit of Yancey when I first became a believer (Jeff, that was your fault right?) and honestly have gleaned some good things from him. But there are concerns, some bigger than others. In my opinion, this should by no means be surprising. Yancey himself is not given to theological precision. He is all about the experience of things. That is all well and good, but he needs to realize (as we all do) that his weaknesses need to be worked on, that he needs to learn more from those who don’t share his same strength. Head and heart Lar. Maybe he needed to listen to your sermon last night. Who knows, maybe he’ll come across it on the Internet in the next few days and come out with a new book describing his conversion! Highly unlikely yes, but our God is big–and He does know every detail of the future.
Also, I picked up on that notion of micromanaging the universe. You remember where Yancey said that he didn’t believe God did that? My first thought was simply, “Doesn’t the Bible seem to point to micromanaging?” It seems to me that a general reading of Scripture would give you the impression that God is passionate about being in sovereign control over all things, so that He might accomplish His will and good pleasure. God doesn’t micromanage just for the sake of it. He micromanages in order to accomplish His grand and glorious purposes. Anyhow…
This isn’t what I was going to write about. I wanted to thank Re for giving us a few comments (which I love to get!). For some reason, I haven’t received them on my email (as I usually do), so my apologies for not picking up on the last few. Anyhow, here are a few thoughts.
Lar, you ended by quoting Matthew 10:37, which says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” That is tough stuff, but I want to point out a simple truth that I find to be one of the foundational convictions that inundates my every thought and entire existence. Jesus was giving a call to His followers to follow after Him with reckless abandon. He was exaggerating in order to make His point. He was calling them to wholehearted devotion.
However, I believe the truth behind this verse goes behind that. For we know that Jesus loves us and only gives us commands that are good for us. Therefore, isn’t it true that this verse points to the reality that we do what’s best for those we love when we ‘hate’ them?
I mean, think about it: my children are loved most when they are in third place (behind the Lord and Erin). They are only safe there. To move up the list in actually deadly for their souls. So with my beautiful wife and everyone else in the universe. I love them most when I love Jesus so much that my love for them looks like hate.
This might sound radical to some, but I believe that it is very simple truth. And I love it! The reason why is because it enables us as human beings to focus on one thing–God!–without losing sight of everything else. Re, I think your comment is wholly and entirely valid and legitimate. However, it is my opinion that I can never become too enraptured with God and heaven. In fact, I would go so far to say that the greatest way to point my children to heaven is to love God so much that I I, in a sense, want to die!
Those words, “in a sense” are important there. Don’t worry, I won’t be jumping out in front of moving vehicles anytime soon (and maybe you weren’t worried). I don’t want to die in some weird, dark, losing my mind sense. It is simply that God and heaven are that attractive. And what I find glorious is that I do what is best for both myself and everyone else in the very same act. God is glorified, I am full of joy and everyone around me is pointed to Jesus when I am consumed with love for Him.
There is more, but behind all of this is the great reality that we do what is best for everyone when we do what is best for ourselves. When we seek sweet satisfaction in the Lord our God with reckless abandon, we not only bring glory to God and satisfy our own souls, but we also begin to naturally point others to that same satisfaction. So the greatest thing I can do to point my children to heaven is to love Jesus so much that I can’t wait to go see Him.
Of course, again, not in some weird sense, but in a humble, broken, “I love Jesus more than life” sort of way. I really can’t wait. And even if I die, my family will be fine. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things are given to us as well. He has nothing but good for His children, nothing but good all the time–even in the face of death.
Alright, that is enough for now. Those thoughts are kind of scattered, but hey, this is a blog. No crazy proofreading here!
Seeking to love Jesus so much that it looks like I ‘hate’ (remember, in a sense) everything and everyone else,
Joe
Yancey on Prayer
September 18, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Philip Yancey is a very popular, well-known author. I have read many of his books and have profited from some of his thoughts. But as I have read his books over the years I have questioned his doctrinal purity in some important areas.
Because of his popularity I think it would be beneficial to provide a link to a review of Yancey’s most recent book on prayer. Tim Challies has a discerning heart and a humble spirit, and I believe his insightful review of this book would be helpful for any who have read some of Yancey’s material in the past.
Check out Challies’ review here.
Larry
Responding to ‘Re’
September 18, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
I’m trusting you checked out the two comments from ‘Re’ (not sure if he/she wants identity known so we’ll just leave it at ‘Re’) in response to my post yesterday about our lukewarmness for Christ’s return. If you’ve not read the two comments, I suggest you do so before you read this post.
In essence, I think ‘Re’ brings up a legitimate point, and reminds me that there is much more to be said about all this than I said in my last post. I think the main thing that I need to say is to remind ‘Re’ and anyone else who might share her sentiment, that when Christ comes to take us home, we will not be leaving loved ones in Christ behind. He will be taking them home as well, and I believe that in the New Heavens and the New Earth, we will still experience fellowship with our loved ones. Jesus did say that there will be no marriage or giving of marriage in heaven, but the picture of heaven that I see in Revelation and in 1 Thessalonians 4 suggests that we will still be with our loved ones in some capacity. Paul says of Christ’s second coming, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them [those who have died in Christ before His coming] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (4:17).
I am not a parent, but I know that as a husband, there is nothing more that I want then to be caught up in the air with Michelle to be with our Lord forever. Though we will no longer be in the same marriage union that we are in now, there is a sense in which we will be together (along with our other loved ones in Christ), enjoying God together the way we were created to. Even the thought of that while typing makes me excited! And I believe the thought of ‘Re’ with children delighting in the praise of a God whom we now see face to face would also be the fulfillment of your heart’s desires. So I think that the parental or spousal responsibilities should not chill our appetite for the coming of our King, because we will all enjoy that glorious moment together. But as a parent, perhaps Joe might be able to add a bit more to this. I have no doubt that should the Lord will for me to have children, that will help me see Kingdom principles much more clearly.
As I read ‘Re’s comments, it seemed as though the thought of being called home through death while his/her children were left here to continue on, is what contributed to the comments. This is of course a different issue entirely than the thought of Christ’s second coming, but an important issue as well. And here I am certainly ignorant of the pain that would come from leaving children behind and returning to meet our Maker. I do have a wife and so I believe that to some degree I know the feeling, but I could well be ignorant. Nevertheless, I certainly believe we should rejoice in doing Christ’s will on earth and loving our family to the praise of God’s glory. We should not be so enamored with thoughts of heaven that we do not want to continue in our earthly enjoyments, family being among the greatest of God’s gifts here on earth.
Still, the day will come (whether tomorrow or in thirty or fifty years) when we will have to say goodbye to those whom we love in order to meet our Maker. And the pressing question as I see it is, “Is it gain?” Paul said, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” This does not mean that it won’t be hard to say goodbye to those people whom we love, but we should know — and I believe feel in our hearts — the gain of departing to be with Christ, which Paul says is “far better” than staying here. And though Paul had no wife or children, it is clear that he had a love for his spiritual children that was every bit as meaningful as natural children.
“To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Is that where our hearts are at? No doubt, this is a hard question, but one I believe that we all (single or married, children or not) must deal with. Let us search our hearts and pray for the grace to live and enjoy each day to the fullest here on earth, and yet still regard departing to be with Christ as far better than the sweetest of all earthly enjoyments. As Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother…son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37-38). Piercing words, but much needed ones for us to consider!
I look forward, Joe, to your thoughts on all this.
Larry
Yea…
September 17, 2006 | Leave a Comment
So I dropped the ball for the last few days. We have been running around a bit, but really, it is just me not getting it done. Actually, I am undergoing a revamping of sorts regarding organization. I need to regroup a bit, so pray for me. Anyhow, I will weigh in tomorrow with some thoughts on your last post. I have a few to say the least–on that and everything else. I look forward to weighing in.
Sorry I missed your preaching tonight, really am. We needed some family time. It was sweet. I plan on listening to your sermon though sometime this week. I love the fact that they are on-line. Alright, peace I’m outta.
Seeking Him with you,
Joe
Our Attitude about Christ’s Return
September 17, 2006 | 2 Comments
Joe,
I actually heard at church today that someone checked the blog this morning and found no post yesterday; shame on us!
I’ve still got to do some preparing for my message tonight, but thought it would be good to go back and forth a bit on the subject I brought before the body at Joy this morning regarding our relative lukewarmness toward Christ’s second coming. I had mentioned a quote which was from a short article by AW Tozer titled, Why we are Lukewarm about Christ’s Return. I found the article online and it can be read here.
To sum it up, he pointed two reasons in particular for our lack of tangible enthusiasm for Christ’s second coming. First, the Church has emphasized the utility of the Cross rather than the beauty of the One who died on it. We must love someone very much to stay awake and long for His coming, and this explains the absence of a deep hope in Christ’s return. We simply have not set our gaze upon His beauty enough to miss Him.
Second, Christians are so comfortable in this world that they have little desire to leave it. This was where I took the quote that “the streets of gold do not have too great an appeal for those who find it so easy to pile up gold and silver in the service of the Lord here on earth.” I can testify that our brothers and sisters in India seem to have a more steady hope in the heavenly glory that is being prepared for all God’s ransomed people. We Americans just have it so good here that we are losing our appetite for the deepest pleasure imaginable in beholding Christ face to face. As you often say, our greatest blessings can easily become curses if we do not use them wisely.
No matter the reasons, this series we began on Revelation has made me give thought to the lukewarmness of my own heart for the consummation of all things that Jesus will bring with His return. When I sing the words of How Great Thou Art, “When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart,” I want to mean it from the bottom of my heart, and I want my prayer life to reflect it!
Let me know any thoughts you have on all this. And I trust you will have some thoughts! Break it into two posts if you have to!
Larry
In Praise of Grace
September 15, 2006 | 1 Comment
Joe,
It seems like we’re getting some good experience in how this blog will help with our communication if and when you head back overseas. It seems like I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks; is it true that you really live right around the corner?!
Anyway, I thought I would take a break from the quotes I’ve been posting to write a short something that is on my mind over the past couple of days. On Wednesday I instructed my last driving lesson for the foreseeable future, and depending on how circumstances work out in the next few months, maybe ever. I’ve been doing those lessons now for three years, and I’ve probably done around 600 3-hour lessons in those three years.
As I dropped off my last student on Wednesday I really began to marvel that with all those hours behind the wheel with a 16-year old, I never got in one accident. I say that not to trumpet my skills as an instructor! I know that it was only the gracious hand of God that kept us accident-free through all those lessons (and there were some close calls!). Even good, experienced drivers have accidents sometimes, but I was driving consistently with brand new drivers for a total of almost 2,000 hours without a collision. I was humbled and repentant for how little glory I had given Him for that over the past few years.
Then I began to think about this coming Sunday night’s sermon for Koinonia. It was one year ago this Sunday that I began serving in this ministry through the preaching of the Word, and I figure that in the past year since I started doing that, I have probably preached around 60-70 times (including my trip to India and preaching at other churches/retreats). In all that, God has never once left me without something to say. That also is an amazing testimony of God’s grace, especially when I consider how little preaching experience I had as of last September.
These reminders of grace are surely too rare in my life. The Giver gets the glory; but too often God is not getting the glory from me consciously because I get too caught up in doing stuff to marvel at how He is the One working in me to produce everything which is pleasing in His sight. It has been a busy year, but the verse that sticks out to me is Colossians 1:28-29, “Him [Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
The hours of ministry that I have put in have all been with His energy, by His grace and for His glory. Let us strive for the conscious remembrance of and praise for the manifold gifts of God’s grace in our lives. Surely if we would just be still for a few moments, we would have countless reasons every hour to praise Him for grace.
Thankful for grace,
Larry
More Musings on the Spirit and Truth
September 14, 2006 | 1 Comment
Lar,
Amen to your 9/14 reflections, I mean, your 9/11 reflections. The threat of terrorism really should bring a seriousness to our preaching and worship. You know you are in Disneyland when preachers think and act more and more like entertainers. It’s a sad sight. When the truth is set aside or made peripheral, preachers get desperate and shallow. May the Lord have mercy on us, and bring by His Holy Spirit a joy-filled seriousness and awe.
I wanted to post a short response to your previous post concerning the necessary union of spirit and truth. I’ll start with a few quotes. First, John Piper in Desiring God writes,
“Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half-full) of artificial admirers (like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living). On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship.”
Jonathan Edwards in Religious Affections says,
“As there is no true religion where there is nothing else but affection, so there is no true religion where there is no religious affection. As on the one hand, there must be light in the understanding, as well as an affected heart…so, on the other hand, where there is a kind of light without heat, a head stored with notions and speculations with a cold and unaffected heart, there can be nothing divine in that light, that knowledge is not true spiritual knowledge of divine things. If the great things of religion are rightly understood, they will affect the heart.”
They are right on the money of course. And both of them have had powerful impacts on my own thinking (and I suppose, feeling as well). The practical out-workings of those truths, however, can be quite touchy. On that note, I think your last post on this matter was quite helpful. I think we have spoken about that truth before, but it is good to put it into words. The Word and prayer are clearly united, just as spirit and truth, and our inclination towards either surely reveals something.
I noticed this first in my own heart and life. There was time in which I could read for hours, but only pray for minutes. It wasn’t until I realized that prayer is a primary means through which the Lord stirs up our affections (when we pray rightly and are accompanied and led by the Holy Spirit). The Lord began to show me (in a variety of ways) that one of the main reasons why I needed to pray was because a lot of Word without a lot of prayer would turn me into a cold intellectual (and an arrogant one). Frankly, I don’t think the affections can be rightly stirred apart from faithful, fervent, persevering, Spirit-led prayer.
However, it is worth noting that Spirit-led prayer is Word-saturated prayer. And this is where some who lean towards petition and not towards meditation miss out. Much fervency in prayer apart from much Biblical meditation will naturally lead to a shallow fervency. If we want our affections to truly honor the Lord of glory, they must be rooted in Bible truth. And if we want our petitions to carry weight before the Lord of glory, they also must be saturated with Bible truth. The two cannot be divorced. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder!
This might sound over-simplistic (and in one respect is), but I think the best advice to people on both sides is this: work on your weakness until it becomes your strength. And when I say work, I by no means want to point to some self-reliant work, but a humble working in meditation and prayer. For those who struggle to pray, pray until you become a person of prayer. And for those who struggle with Bible reading and meditation, read and meditate (and pray!) until you love it. And I have no doubt that even though it might be a struggle, you will love it! This has been my experience with prayer. Every morning is a fight, but when I get to my knees and start petitioning, I love it and have a hard time getting up. Of course, this didn’t happen overnight. It took a great deal of diligence and discipline. It took praying even when I didn’t feel like praying. But we have already covered that. When we don’t love something we should love as Christians, I think it is wise to do it until we love it (praying the whole time for the grace!).
Alright, enough for now. I know you don’t want to give away your entire sermon, but I wouldn’t mind rolling on this some more. If the church of Jesus Christ could wed the two, what might the Lord do? The answers are breathtaking. Let’s seek it for ourselves, call others to the same, and pray for the Spirit to come and do that sweet miracle of the soul. O Lord come!
Seeking completeness with you,
Joe
Another Great Quote
September 14, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
I know you said that you liked the quotes I always come up with, so here’s another one. It really is a great blessing to have the opportunity to devote several hours every week to studying the Word of God and reading great authors who have studied the Word of God, and serving others with those truths that God laid on my heart.
As I studied this week on worshiping in spirit and truth, I came across this quote from Bernard of Clairvaux:
Jesus, thou Joy of loving hearts,Thou Fount of life, thou Light of men, From the best bliss that earth imparts We turn unfulfilled to thee again. We taste thee, O thou living bread, And long to feast upon thee still; We drink of thee, the Fountainhead, And thirst our souls from thee to fill.
Oh to taste of Christ’s beauty in that way! Pray for me brother, as I will for you, that we will drink from the river of His delights until our hearts rest satisfied, and that we would expend our energies pointing others to the Fountain of Living Waters.
Larry
Edit — Sorry but I can’t figure out how to get the lines of the poem onto separate lines; maybe Joe can figure that out!
9/11 Reflection (A Few Days Late)
September 14, 2006 | Leave a Comment
With the five-year anniversary of 9/11 being this past Monday, the following quote might have been better posted then. But the tragedy of 9/11 exposed another tragedy, this one in the Church. In his book Above All Earthly Powers: Christ in a Postmodern World, David Wells writes the following regarding the Church’s response to the terrorist attacks:
“This moment of tragedy and evil [referring to 9-11] shone its own light on the Church and what we came to see was not a happy sight. For what has become conspicuous by its scarcity, and not least in the evangelical corner of it, is a spiritual gravitas [that is, weight], one which could match the depth of horrendous evil and address issues of such seriousness. Evangelicalism, now much absorbed by the arts and tricks of marketing, is simply not very serious anymore.”
That is well said. As calamity after calamity falls upon us (Tsunamis, hurricanes, etc.), thousands of pastors feel the need to be glorified stand-up comics from the pulpit. In our attempt to be ‘relevant’, the Church is becoming more and more irrelevant every day.
Longing for a Gospel witness that shines bright in the face of terrorists and Tsunamis,
Larry
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