A Valuable Perspective

We were both overwhelmed. For a while...

Today I sat down to have a quick bite of lunch with our church's administrative assistant. The two of us were moaning slightly about the 473 things that needed to be tended to by the end of the week: this event, that meeting, this pesky person, that phone call, these problems, those issues.

In the middle of all of this complaining, a young woman who is a member of our congregation came in to pick up some materials for a kindergarten class she will be teaching this summer. She has three beautiful kids of her own - an eight year old, a seven year old, and an infant.

And her husband was killed on the job three months ago.

None of us here sees her without thinking of the crushing pain she has experienced. It's impossible (and appropriately so) to talk to her without sensing how tender she must still be.

The administrative assistant found the materials the young mother needed, then came and sat back down to lunch saying, "Well, things aren't too bad around here I guess, huh?"

Indeed. What an important and centering lesson that was for the two of us. We would all do well, when life piles it on thick, to remember that there is always someone out there who is more in need of a break, more in need of compassion, and more in need of help than us. After all, how can I be of any help to other people when I'm only thinking about myself?

On Being Married To Quarrel More Conveniently

This post is only good for a knowing smile and affirming nod, provided you are married. I haven't read The Horse And His Boy in years, but I have read it at least five times. The story takes place parenthetically within the better known tale of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. One of my favorite bits is on the second to last page when the story of the hero (Cor) and the heroine (Aravis) is being wrapped up. If you're familiar with the book, you'll recall the situation:

"Aravis also had many quarrels (and, I'm afraid even fights) with Cor, but they always made it up again: so that years later, when they were grown up they were so used to quarrelling and making it up again that they got married so as to go on doing it more conveniently."

One thing that is true about every marriage is the existence of "quarreling." Of course the amount of bickering and disagreement varies widely, but I think strong marriages have a healthy dose of it, and healthy marriages have a strong dose of making up. This little sentence at the end of one of C.S. Lewis' works of fiction reminds me that disagreement in marriage is perfectly natural, and where there is true love, so is making up.

Riding The Waves

Afflictions are often compared to the waves of a stormy sea, and it is certainly true that the same unease, fear and disorientation brought on by rough waters supply a fitting metaphor for the way life often feels.

Believers are not exempt from dangerous journeys and tempestuous times, but the difference for us is that our Savior is in the boat with us, nonplussed and undisturbed by the storm all around. Although waves toss and threaten and even soak us to the skin with their icy chill, they are in fact lifting us up, and this is the purpose of trials in the life of the Christian.

One more thing to remember about waves is their source. It is none other than the wind. The mighty ocean would be perfectly still if not stirred by the winds above. Believers can know for a fact that any troubled waters that threaten them are at the mercy of the Holy Spirit. He moves upon these waters, and they can never overstep their bounds. All waves that the children of God experience are generated by the sanctifying Spirit for the singular purpose of carrying them safely home.

Emaciated Worship

"An emaciated Gospel leads to emaciated worship. It lowers our eyes from God to self and cheapens what God has accomplished for us in Christ. The biblical gospel, by contrast, is like fuel in the furnace of worship."

Excerpted from "What Is The Gospel" by Greg Gilbert.

Sovereign Or Not

Just a quick reminder that Almighty God is sovereign - or He is not. It is a logical impossibility to be in complete control without having control over all things.

God declared to Isaiah: "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10

As clearly explained in Romans 9, God chose Jacob (and David, and Jeremiah, and Paul, and every believer) before he was born so that His "purpose in election might stand."

Believer, take heart! The God that saved you is sovereign and will remain so. His purpose in saving you will not be thwarted, but will most certainly stand. This is the foundation of our hope and the motivation for our growth in holiness.

"The Quotable Rogue" ~ A Book Review

If anyone has caused a stir in American politics in the last three years, it's been the Pit Bull from Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin. "The Quotable Rogue - The Ideals of Sarah Palin In Her Own Words" by Matt Lewis is nothing more than a compilation of Sarah's own soundbytes on nearly three dozen different topics ranging from abortion to Barack Obama to gun control to faith to Tina Fey.

Frankly, this is a great way to get to know a person without having to read something that would qualify as a "real book". "The Quotable Rogue" is a 180 page collection of quotations that could easily be read in one or two sittings.

One interesting facet of the book is the final chapter titled "What Others Say About Sarah Palin." This section is filled with both positive and negative opinions from both the right and the left sides of the political spectrum. It makes for a nice, well-rounded overview.

The one quote I'll use from the book is from Sarah's meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres in 2008: "I wanted to meet you for many years. The only flag at my office is an Israeli flag, and I want you to know and I want Israelis to know that I am a friend." The fact that Palin is pro-Israel says plenty to me about the way she views the rest of life.

It's certainly not hard to pin down Sarah Palin on her values; she's quite bold and outspoken, a fact I appreciate. "The Quotable Rogue" distills all of her words down into a brief, yet thorough, presentation of what she really thinks about the world around her.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Don't Get Off On The Jam

"Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy[!]" Psalm 33:3

I was on a roof the other day, tearing off shingles with a friend (it's OK, we were supposed to be tearing them off...). He's a fellow minister and musician (I use that term loosely in reference to myself) and we started talking about music and worship and church. He told me that one of his music ministers used to tell the band: "Don't get off on the jam."


If you play an instrument or sing, or both, you know what it's like when you're in the sweet spot: your playing feels inspired, your voice is strong and, well, awesome. It's a fantastic feeling. But it doesn't mean (in the context of the church) that your musical offering is any more "spiritual" or "Spirit-filled." Goosebumps aren't always an indication of divine inspiration. I get goosebumps when my mom makes her strawberry shortcake. Of course, the argument for divine inspiration could be made on that point, but that would be a digression.

The best times in worship, and the best kind of worship, is when your heart is broken because it's filled to the brim and spilling over with the words of truth being sung about the majesty and works of our awesome God, regardless of your ability to play or sing.

Yes, King David tells us to "play skillfully", and we should. At least, we should play as skillfully as we can. It doesn't mean I'll play like Phil Keaggy or sing in the rafters like Phil Wickham. Play skillfully. You're not going to play as good as the best, but you should play YOUR best, whatever that is, and when it's really good, enjoy it, but worship God, not the goosebumps.


My compliments to the Sacred Sandwich for the cartoon...

Marvel At This!

With the spate of superhero movies coming at us like a speeding bullet these days, I thought these words from Spurgeon (Morning and Evening, June 11) were especially...cool.

"Behold the hero of Golgotha using His cross as an anvil, and His woes as a hammer, dashing to shivers bundle after bundle of our sins, those poisoned "arrows of the bow"; trampling on every indictment, and destroying every accusation. What glorious blows the mighty Breaker gives with a hammer far more ponderous than the fabled weapon of Thor! ... Beloved, no sin of a believer can now be an arrow mortally to wound him, no condemnation can now be a sword to kill him, for the punishment of our sin was borne by Christ, a full atonement was made for all our iniquities by our blessed Substitute and Surety."

Of course Spurgeon was just a man, chosen and redeemed by God and worthy of no hoity-toity homage, but he was a hero for the Truth. If he showed up on my Wii, he might look like this:

(The following cartoon has been stolen from Eddie Eddings! Click the image to visit Eddie's site, though it may take a while to load since he lives in Kuwait. Eddie is locked and loaded with humor and is a gun barrel full of laughs!)

The One State Solution!

I've been high in the mountains (not to be confused with being "high" in the mountains...) the last few days and I've got tons of ideas for posts, but, alas, a paucity of available time in which to create them. In the meantime, you might enjoy this (thanks Kevin!):

Fantastic Download Deal for "What Is The Gospel"

I'm reading this right now, I highly recommend it, and I just discovered it's less than a buck for your Kindle!

Oh Really?

It wasn't my fault. It was on right after America's Funniest Videos the other night. It came on my TV screen and I didn't turn it off immediately like I should have. I was embarrassed but at least no one else was around. This is what I saw:


It was like I wanted to change the channel, but couldn't. It was mesmerizing. That is, until I realized I wasn't observing a church service. This was a positive attitude seminar with a motivational speaker.

Let's briefly examine the statements Mr. Osteen and his audience recite at the beginning of their meetings. I won't bother writing them; listen to it again if you can stand it. I will merely point out that each of the statements is absolutely true, except for one. Can you spot the impostor? It's sentence #5: "Today I will be taught the Word of God." I have actually listened to Mr. Osteen preach(?) and have heard nothing more than platitudes and sugar frosted feel good-isms. The fact that this fifth sentence is false makes it so that all the other ones are misleading and even dangerous. Does the audience know what the Bible says about them, whether saved or unsaved? Do they know exactly what the Bible says they have? Do they know for sure what the Bible says they can do? Not unless they're studying the Scriptures intently for themselves...and if they are, why do they go to "church" at Lakewood?

I'm certain I'm painting Joel's audience with a broad brush, but when I see those thousands of folks grinning and saying that they are "what the Bible says" they are and that they "can do" what the Bible says they can do, I don't think they're contemplating their depravity and utter helplessness apart from Christ. This little credo has man at the center, not the Savior.

How To Harm The Church

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds." 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

What better way to harm the Church than to surreptitiously infiltrate. It should be understood that the enemy in disguise is more of a threat than the one that is plainly seen. What often happens is that camouflaged enemies of the Church are allowed in (either on two legs or the winds of false teaching) to consort and converse, to smile and to laugh....and to kill. Whether it's a mortal foe or false creed, we need to be on guard against the small poison of error more than the things that are blatantly profane, for these we are not prone to befriend.