Set Your Hope in God

From a sermon on Psalm 78:1-8

There is an urgent and yet ongoing process to press into the soft hearts of our children the need for putting their hope in God - of trusting Him with their very souls. It's helping them to see the sinfulness of their sin, and that it is a violation of the holiness of God, that it is punishable by death and that it cannot possibly be overlooked no matter how obedient they are. It's helping them to see the pure holiness of God, to see Him in His glory through the glory of His sinless Son, to see how this holy God hates sin - oh, how He hates sin! He hates sin so much that it "pleased the Lord to crush [His own Son]" (Isaiah 53:10). It's allowing them to see their sin in its seriousness and God in His holiness - and how the two cannot come together. It’s getting them to see as Isaiah saw in Isaiah 6 in the year that King Uzziah died and he saw the Lord high and exalted…and cried “Woe is me! I am undone!” We must bring our children to the end of themselves!

But then there's the Son! His sinless life and His sacrificial death and His supernatural resurrection have all displayed the satisfaction of the Father’s wrath against our sin. Because in His Son He has poured out all the wrath and judgment and condemnation that was due us. And so IN HIS SON we have "no condemnation" (Romans 8:1) And IN HIS SON we bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11). And that IN HIS SON we have hope! (Colossians 1:27)

OUR CHILDREN MUST SET THEIR HOPE IN GOD!

We Come O Christ to You

A new favorite line from hymnody:

You are the Way to God,
your blood our ransom paid;
In you we face our Judge and Maker unafraid.
Before the throne
absolved we stand,
your love has met your law’s demand.

Full lyrics here w/ midi melody sample.

Worship & Judgment in the book of the Revelation

As a Christian book, the Apocalypse is characterized by song and worship. While portraying judgment upon sin, a note of joy and praise is heard repeatedly. Some twenty songs of praise and worship are recorded in it. Saints and angels, as well as all nature, are pictured as sharing in the worship of God and the Lamb. The worship is joyous and wholehearted. A number of the songs record the reactions of the witnesses to the just judgments of God being poured out upon an evil world.
It insists that the only proper object of man's worship is God (19:10; 22:9). Both men and angels joyfully unite in their worship of the Lamb of God (5:8-14). The book also shows and denounces wrong worship. It castigates all idolatry and shows that the worship of any man or of Satan will be judged. Worship of the beast and his image is a special object of warning.

D. Edmond Hiebert, An Introduction to the New Testament: Three Volume Collection. Volume 3. (Waynesboro, Georgia: Gabriel Publishing, 2003)

Church Discipline Resources

I've recently been doing a bit of study & research on the topic of church discipline. As I've been locating resources, I've compiled a list of both books and online documents.

Click here to view the list of Church Discipline Resources.

As with any resource, please read with discernment. I haven't read every page of every resource listed here, but can generally recommend these to you. In the event you read something that doesn't sound biblical, use it to drive you back to the text of Scripture to find out why.

And for those who are not familiar with the biblical practice of church discipline, you might start with Matthew 18:15 - 20. And while you're there, pay attention to the context - i.e., notice the parables on each side of this passage on discipline. I think you'll be encouraged and come away with a more accurate understanding of this tough but loving passage.

HIStory of Me :: part IV

Continued from yesterday.
During my last year of Central Baptist College I met two groups of people that were extremely instrumental in my walk with the Lord. Ray Ortlund, Jr. introduced the first group of people to me in his book, “A Passion for God.” I didn’t know anything about Ortlund, but saw that John MacArthur endorsed his book. I knew who MacArthur was and really appreciated his ministry, so I went on MacArthur’s recommendation and bought the book.
This book remains at the top of my list. In it, Pastor Ortlund gives his paraphrase of the book of Romans derived from his Greek translations. He divides the verses into small portions and after each he writes a prayer in response to the passage. Then he would quote a dead guy. This was the pattern of the book throughout. Just as I knew nothing of Ray Ortlund, Jr., I knew nothing of these men he often quoted – except for the fact that most of them were dead and they all had some profound things to say. I eventually understood these men to be our church forefathers, puritans, hymn writers and reformers. What these men (and Ortlund) had to say about God, man and the Christian life was far beyond the depth of thought I had ever given to such things. This book increased my love for God and decreased my love for self.
The second group of people I met had at least one obvious thing in common: The Bible Church of Little Rock (BCLR). I met several men from BCLR at a conference where theologian Wayne Grudem was speaking. I learned that these men were studying through Grudem's Systematic Theology text and I asked if I could join them. I did and for the next year met with these men at 6am on Friday mornings for what they called, “Doctrine and Devotion.”
I also stayed for a lunchtime study through Alexander Strauch’s, “Biblical Eldership.” It was during this year of study with these men that I came to realize that my level of ministry training was probably inadequate for a full-time, vocational pastor. For over four years the determining factor for me being in ministry was the subjective call (1 Timothy 3:1) that I had expressed when I “surrendered to preach,” and yet now I realized that there were other more objective qualifications (1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4) that had to be evident. These objective qualifications would eventually, in my mind, either affirm or deny the subjective calling I thought I had. Subsequently, after much prayer and counsel I stepped away from vocational ministry and moved to Little Rock to attend BCLR to experience this philosophy of ministry and hopefully to receive more training.
We’ve been at BCLR now for ten years. I’ve received several hours of formal training in class with Dr. George Zemek that include several years of Greek, Theology, Hermeneutics, Homiletics, etc. Yet, as our new family was growing, the need for me to secure a second source of income (so my wife could stay home with our 4 children), often cut my studies short. However, over these years I’ve also been given increasing opportunities at BCLR in the children’s, youth and college ministries that include both teaching and music/worship.
This brings us to today. I have recently been offered the incredible opportunity to serve alongside the BCLR pastoral team that I’ve admired for so long. I have assumed the role of Children’s Ministry Director at BCLR and given full-paid tuition to The Expositor’s Seminary. As I pursue my master’s degree I will gradually take on more pastoral responsibilities at BCLR and if the Lord wills, I’ll transition into a pastoral position.
The days ahead are exciting and also intimidating, but my wife and I are humbled and grateful for these opportunities.
Life is still good because our God is so good.

HIStory of Me :: part III

Continued from yesterday.

Having heard the gospel and experienced God's conviction for the first time in my life left no small impression on me. That conviction remained with me over the next few days. I wanted to pursue this Christian life. I wanted Jesus; but I also loved my sin. By God’s grace, somehow I knew that I couldn’t have both.

I think it could’ve been that following Wednesday evening when I was sitting on the patio behind my mother’s house talking to God. I could almost visualize in my mind a life with Christ on one side and my life of sin on the other. I had to choose. And I did. That night I experienced what I now know to be repentance, a gift from God, not my own, that resulted in a changed life. That night the Lord granted me repentance to turn from my sin and He gave me faith to trust in the finished cross-work of Christ. I’m confident that I didn’t understand it quite that way back then, but I did know that I was ready to leave my old life behind.

The changes that took place over the following months were obvious. I rarely missed an opportunity in the Lord’s house, I was reading my Bible and understanding it’s basic truths. I was baptized and joined the church. My life was being transformed and those around me noticed. Though I had much to learn I finally had a good life – a godward life.

Almost two years after the Lord saved me and I had been active in my local church - even serving in different capacities and sharing my faith with my co-workers - I wasn’t satisfied. After listening to many preaching tapes during my commute to work I soon realized a growing desire in my own life to teach the Bible. I was growing more and more discontent with my career because of this conflicting desire so I quit my job and the following Sunday made my desires for ministry known during the altar call at my church.

As is the custom among many Baptists, they put this new “preacher” in the pulpit the following Sunday evening and enrolled me in a nearby Bible college that same week. I spent the next four years completing my Bachelors degree in Biblical studies. During the second year of my schooling I took a position as a youth pastor at a growing church in a small rural town in central Arkansas. Anita and I were engaged to be married. Life was getting even better.

To be continued tomorrow...

HIStory of Me :: part II

Continued from yesterday.

Several events during my late teens and early twenties pushed me farther into sin and away from God. The death of my grandfather, the senseless murder of one of my childhood friends, my parent’s divorce (after many turbulent years of separation) as well as my own failed relationships, all made me question much of what I barely knew to be true. I soon found myself living alone several hundred miles away from my family, estranged from my father, having all but flunked out of college, and barely able to pay my rent. The only thing I had to enjoy in life was my sin. I was twenty-two years old.

It was during this very low point in my life when I actually made a very mature decision. I had been living in Trumann, Arkansas for barely a month - just getting settled in when I got a phone call from my 19-year-old sister. She was living with my mother in Sheridan at the time and was several months pregnant. She had called to tell me that her boyfriend just ended their relationship. She was distraught. So, in a rare moment of reason and responsibility I made a quick choice to pack up my belongings and move back home to take care of the two women in my life. Looking back, I can only attribute this to the beginnings of God’s merciful drawing of me to Himself.

Though I was home to help these two women who had experienced broken relationships, I spent the summer in and out of several sinful relationships myself. I was enjoying my sin for a season, but there was certainly no lasting value or purpose to my life. This was the summer of 1992. Just a few months later, in the fall, I met the girl that would three years later become my wife.

I was smitten by Anita’s beauty and our personalities couldn’t have complimented each other any better. I was certain that we were a match made in Heaven. Since I knew Anita was a “religious” girl, I knew I had better watch some of my sinful habits, but I wasn’t necessarily ready to walk the straight and narrow. Nonetheless, after our very first date, I ended up inviting myself to her Baptist church the following morning. I had no idea why. Again, in hindsight I see the hand of God.

I still remember the title of the sermon that morning, “So Close and yet Lost.” The fiery, red-headed and red-faced preacher gave example after example of people who had lived good lives, done good things, served in church, etc. and yet did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was talking about me. And when the end of the service came and the invitation was given and the question was asked, “If you died tonight do you know you would go to Heaven?” I was pierced to my soul. I knew the answer to that question. I knew I had no hope of Heaven. I knew I should walk the aisle. But I didn’t.

To be continued tomorrow...

HIStory of Me :: part I

I was recently required to write out my salvation testimony for my seminary application. It ended up being three pages long, but I'd still like to post it here on the blog. I'll divide it up into several pieces for easier reading, and spread it out over the next few days.

Now, I've hesitated several times to post this thinking it to be rather self-aggrandizing. But this is not my story. This is HIS story of me. This is a testimony of God's grace in me. And because of that, we should all share our own HIStory.

Part One.

Growing up in a good home can sometimes be more dangerous to your soul than being in a bad home. I was in a good home and my soul was indeed in danger. My parents were good to my younger sister and me. We were well taken care of. In my eyes, mom & dad were near perfect.

We occasionally attended the Methodist church in our small town of several thousand, sometimes more frequent than others. By the time I was in seventh grade, I became active in our church youth group and was a regular attendee. I gradually took on youth leadership roles within our church and was soon gaining the respect of the adults around me... even the pastor once asked if I’d ever considered the ministry as a vocation. I had a good life… but I did not know God.

During my most formidable years at home and in this church, I cannot once remember hearing the Gospel. I cannot remember ever carrying my Bible. I can't remember ever hearing of my wretched sinful condition nor of the holy wrath of God set against me. Of course, I was taught that Jesus was God and that I needed to be good, but if I wasn’t good Jesus would forgive me anyway. He was simply Someone you believed in, not a sufficient Savior Who’s death satisfied the justice of God on my behalf.

I always figured I was doing all right with God. I figured I was safe. My good outweighed my bad. In my own mind I was better behaved than most of my peers and well thought of in my church.

I didn’t start rebelling until my last year or two of high school and on into college. And, because my sin habits were concentrated in “just” a couple of areas, I still thought I was a good guy. After all, I often thought, at least I don’t drink or do drugs. This particular area of abstinence was my self-awarded badge of moral honor.

To be continued Thursday.

The Word

We heard this Sara Groves song on the radio Sunday after church & I remembered two things:
1) Haven't heard it in quite a while, and
2) What a great song it is!

I've done every devotional
Been every place emotional
Trying to hear a new word from God
And I think it's very odd
That while I attmept to help myself
My Bible sits upon my shelf
With every promise I could ever need

CHORUS:
And the Word was
And the Word is
And the Word will be

People are getting fit for truth
Like they're buying a new tailored suit
Does it fit across the shoulders
Does it fade when it get older
We throw ideas that aren't in style
In the Salvation Army pile
And search for something more to meet our needs

CHORUS

I think it's time I rediscover
All the ground that I have covered,
Like seek ye first what a verse
We are pressed but not crushed
Perplexed but don't despair
We are persecuted but not abandoned
We are no longer slaves
We are daughters and sons
And when we are weak we are very strong
And neither death nor life nor present
Nor future nor depth nor height
Can keep us from the love of Christ
And the Word I need is the Word that was
Who put on flesh to dwell with us
In the beginning

CHORUS

Click here to preview or purchase The Word.

No Heroic Defiance

"Create in me and in your church a sense of profound respect for questions of conscience. We are so lax. We have nothing of a watchman mentality. We trumpet our freedom in the gospel, but our living looks more like an easygoing indifference to matters of right and wrong. Lord, we even feel superior to previous generations of believers, who at least took moral questions seriously. We view their faith as strict and narrow. But we ourselves are so soft, so casually compliant, so unthinking and undiscerning and uncaring, we are no different from the world around us. We are the influenced, not the influential, because our faith has no moral power, no unbending resolve, no heroic defiance grounded in profoundly held personal conviction. O Lord, awaken us! Enlighten our darkness. Sensitize our dullness. Give us backbone. The world will never be won by Christians like us. "

~Ray Ortlund, Jr., A Passion for God: Prayers and Meditations on the Book of Romans

Freebie Friday

This week's book giveaway is Tim Challies' "The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment." If you aren't familiar with Tim's website, go there now from some great stuff!

The random topic for this giveaway is: Gameshows.

Leave your name & your favorite gameshow (past or present) in the comments.

And, my apologies for the absence of Freebie Fridays the past couple of weeks & my apologies to my friend, Matt Henslee, who won the MacArthur book a few weeks ago & I haven't even told him yet.

Last Year's Father's Day Gift

Click here to view this photo book larger

Forgiveness

When we forgive a debt or an offense or an injury, we don’t
require a payment for settlement. That would be the opposite
of forgiveness. If repayment is made to us for what we lost,
there is no need for forgiveness. We have our due.
Forgiveness assumes grace. If I am injured by you, grace lets
it go. I don’t sue you. I forgive you. Grace gives what someone
doesn’t deserve. That’s why forgiveness has the word give in it.
Forgiveness is not “getting” even. It is giving away the right to
get even.

That is what God does to us when we trust Christ: “Everyone
who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”
(Acts 10:43). If we believe in Christ, God no longer holds our sins
against us. This is God’s own testimony in the Bible: “I, I am he
who wipes out your transgressions for my own sake” (Isaiah
43:25). “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove
our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

But this raises a problem. We all know that forgiveness is not
enough. We may only see it clearly when the injury is great—like
murder or rape. Neither society nor the universe can hold together
if judges (or God) simply say to every murderer and rapist, “Are
you sorry? Okay. The state forgives you. You may go.” In cases
like these we see that while a victim may have a forgiving spirit,
the state cannot forsake justice.

So it is with God’s justice. All sin is serious, because it is against
God (see chapter 1). He is the one whose glory is injured when we
ignore or disobey or blaspheme him. His justice will no more
allow him simply to set us free than a human judge can cancel all
the debts that criminals owe to society. The injury done to God’s
glory by our sin must be repaired so that in justice his glory shines
more brightly. And if we criminals are to go free and be forgiven,
there must be some dramatic demonstration that the honor of God
is upheld even though former blasphemers are being set free.
That is why Christ suffered and died. “In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses”

(Ephesians 1:7). Forgiveness costs us nothing. All our costly obedience
is the fruit, not the root, of being forgiven. That’s why we
call it grace. But it cost Jesus his life. That is why we call it just.
Oh, how precious is the news that God does not hold our sins
against us! And how beautiful is Christ, whose blood made it right
for God to do this.

From John Piper's book, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

Free online book here.

My Latest Logo

After I first saw the logos I linked in Tuesday's post, as well as these current trends, I was better inspired a few weeks ago to design this logo for our college Bible study series this summer.



I went with the "hidden" element as I used the person's head and body as the "O" and "A" in "One Another". I had one primary inspiration for the substance of this design - the "one another's of the New Testament (notice the "other" people in the upper right). My primary inspiration for the style was this:

I love little people.

Death is not Dying

Rachel Barkey is a wife, mother of two, and a Christian.

And she is dying of cancer.

I recently had the privilege to not only hear her amazing message, but to also help produce it for a Revive Our Hearts radio program.

I wouldn't ask anyone to sit & listen to a 55 minute presentation if I didn't think it would significantly benefit your life. So in this case I am.

You can listen or watch this message here or read the transcript at http://www.reviveourhearts.com/.

For now, you can hear a short clip below from the Revive Our Hearts program featuring Rachel's story.

Fun with Logos

Chances are you've already seen a FedEx truck today with this bold name across it's side. But have you ever seen the hidden symbol in this well-known logo?

Once you see it, you'll never look at this logo the same way again. Here's the answer and many other cool logo designs with hidden symbols.

More here.

Electronic products such as motorcycles

As much as I hate junk mail & spam in my Inbox, every now & then I get one that's so bad, it's almost enjoyable. I've cut & pasted a recent email I received in my junk folder, and - I've altered nothing but the web address & emails

Hey
how are you doing recently?

I would like to introduce you a very good company and its website is http://www.verygoodspam.com/ It can offer you all kinds of electronic products that you may be in need,such as laptops ,gps ,TV LCD,cell phones, ps3,MP3/4,motorcycles and etc........

You can take some time to have a check ,there must be something interesting you 'd like to purchase .

The contact email: email@spam.com MSN: email@spam.com
TEL: 1-800-SPAM

Hope you can enjoy yourself in shopping from that company !
Regards

I think this spammer was using Power Translator.

Freebie Friday

Today's giveaway is a 365 page devotional book by John MacArthur called "Daily Readings from the Life of Christ." If you're not familiar with the teaching/preaching ministry of Pastor MacArthur, just click here and start anywhere - it's all good!

Here's a brief description of today's book from gbibooks.com:

This devotional book by John MacArthur is meant for every believer. Jesus Christ is the climactic centerpiece of all God's work-past, present, and future-and this daily devotional focuses on Christ and His Word. With insights on the life of Jesus, thoughts to ponder, and wisdom gleaned from years of careful study, Daily Readings from the Life of Christ delivers a fresh realization of the grace of God in Christ for each day. Your hungry heart will be focused on God and His Word.

This first volume will take you through the first year of our Saviour’s public ministry.

I am so thankful for the pastors under which God has placed me in the local church. There are also men such as John MacArthur that have had a significant influence in my sanctification (i.e., growth as a believer). So, aside from your local pastor(s), tell me who your "favorite" radio or print pastor is & why. I'll randomly pick a winner from all the entries.

Again - for the record - we should be careful of this.

Congrats to last week's winner:

Gina Eggebrecht

We Retired Another Pair

One month ago, our third child reached that milestone of freedom for which every child longs: losing the training wheels.

Getting a few pointers from Dad.

And she's off!
She never looks back.

Big sister is watching from the sidelines.

Congratulations Anna!

Memorial Day

To those we know and to those we don't.

Thank you.

Freebie Friday

Today's freebie is a book I just came across that I could really benefit from myself. It's called Clutter-Free Christianity: What God Really Desires for You. The author, Robert Jeffress, is pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas. Now, I haven't read this book, but it looks to be Gospel-centered, which is a good thing. It also has a reputable endorsement by Al Mohler:

"Robert Jeffress reminds us that the essence of the gospel is a changed life flowing from a God-transformed heart. From such a heart pours obedience, faith, contentment, service, and prayer—every facet of our continuing relationship with God. This book will ignite a passion to live wholly and holy for God as an overflow of our heart's love for Him."
– R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

You want it? Here's what to do: Even though this book isn't about physical & material clutter necessarily, in the comments describe with some detail the area of your house that is consistently the most cluttered.

Go.

And now to announce the winner of last week's NLD Trilogy giveaway ...

Tami Kim of Berkley, CA

Congrats Tami! I'll admit, the Cocoa Pebbles really helped you. :)

Baboon Ball Box & Basham

Vintage game box...

...or strategic piece of audio equipment?

We've been improvising by using a box of envelopes during our recording sessions with Leslie in order to elevate the scripts high enough so her neck won't be bending down when she reads. Thanks to my recent find at an estate sale, we now have a solution that's much more entertaining than a box of envelopes.

Thanks Baboon Ball!

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

This continues a series on Proverbs & Money.

Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained hastily (or by fraud) will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it..

Is anyone currently audacious enough to question the wisdom found in Proverbs 13:11? Perhaps it is possible if you’ve been in a coma for the last two years. However, it would now be disingenuous to protest post-Madoff and sub-prime, CDO’s, mortgage fraud, excessive LBO’s, and cash-out refi’s. This generation’s life verse was summed up well by the 1989 Queen lyrics “I Want it All (and I Want it Now)”:

But just give me, huh, what I know is mine
People do you hear me, just gimme the sign
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Here's to the future for the dreams of youth

More specific evidence of the haste doctrine comes from a couple of borrowers highlighted in a recent CNBC television documentary of the precursors to our current economic turmoil. One borrower facing foreclosure indicated that “with a salary of $900 a week he knowingly signed documents claiming he made four times as much….and bought a $584,000 San Clemente, CA townhouse”. My personal favorite though is from another borrower whose puny defense went like this: "We took a little money out to build our swimming pool, you know, 'cause I have three boys and I gotta keep 'em happy." Granted, overzealous lenders and investors were plenty eager to unreel the rope that is now wringing our neck.

The urge for instant gain is not new and it is not just money. Our culture longs for everything from instant coffee to instant sex. But why is it so dangerous, and worse, such an offense to our Maker? The answer is as deep as we could ever dig, but at least on the surface we should understand that taking shortcuts to wealth, glory, or honor undercuts our need for faith. Undercutting our faith means undercutting the very foundation for pleasing and thereby enjoying God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith says “I will trust God while waiting because I know He is a just father”, while Queen says “get out of my way God and give me what is mine now. I can handle this without you”.

This, however, doesn’t sound like Jesus. He resisted the temptation to turn stones into bread in exchange for a full belly, resisted the temptation to worship Satan in exchange for his kingdom, and resisted the temptation to bypass the cross in exchange for comfort and our damnation. But his waiting and short term self-denial were not ultimate. Ultimately, He has been exalted above every name in Heaven or earth so that one day all men will bow to his Lordship. Good things really do come to those who wait; for us it is chiefly a heart that has the capacity to enjoy something more lasting than an under-water mortgage (Isaiah 40:31). Struggling with you to wait for the revealing of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

All posts in this "Proverbs and Money" series were submitted by a friend of Aaron's who wishes to remain anonymous.

Freebie Friday

I guess the cool, current trend must be to give stuff away if you're a famous blogger like Tim Challies or The Pioneer Woman. Well, I'm far from cool & even farther from famous. But - I do have free stuff to give away! So today will begin an indefinite weekly blog feature I'll call "Freebie Friday" where I'll give away some great books. How long is indefinite? It's as long as I have books to giveaway.

To kick off our first Freebie Friday, I will not just give away one book - not even two books - but three - YES THREE books from Nancy Leigh DeMoss!

But wait, there's more! All three books have been signed by Nancy!

Having worked with her & the Revive Our Hearts ministry for almost seven years now, I cannot recommend her writing enough.

Brokenness, Surrender and Holiness make up a trilogy of books that "explore key themes on coming to God. Brokenness: experiencing the deep repentance that comes before every movement of God. Surrender: submitting to God in order to have victory over stubborn habits and secret sins. Holiness: living a life of purity and having a heart set on fire for God"

So whatcha gotta do to win? Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment here or on this link on my Facebook page under this blog link.
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Winner will be announced on the following Friday.
4. If you win, wait a few weeks before entering again - share the love people.
5. In your comment/entry, you must respond to my topic.

Today's topic: Kid's Cereal.
Leave your comment and tell me your 3 favorite kid's cereal.
Go.

Hooper Stars: It'll Make You Cry

Remember this story:

Now, you gotta see this:

(HT:JT)

You're Not Worthy

While studying to preach from Acts 13, I came across a rather difficult passage to understand.

The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles."
Acts 13: 44-46

My question was this, how did the unbelieving, Gospel reviling Jews "judge [them]selves unworthy of eternal life?" And, subsequently, can people today be guilty of judging themselves unworthy of eternal life? What does it mean to declare yourself not worthy?

The first image that came to mind (I'm sad to say) was of Wayne & Garth bowing down to their rock star gods. How I go from a study of the early church to Wayne's World, I have no idea. Thankfully, I moved on from this thought & found this explanation by Pastor MacArthur that was really helpful. Here's how he explains it:

If I take you to the Louvre in France and show you the Mona Lisa and you look at the Mona Lisa and say, "Oh, that's lousy art." I say, "My friend, the Mona Lisa is not on trial; you are. That's already been judged to be a masterpiece. You're a crummy art critic." The point is you pronounced your own sentence. You're not fit to judge art. If I take to hear one of the great masterpiece symphonies and we hear one of the great orchestras of the world play one of the greatest symphonies ever written and the music is just sweeping and moving and powerful and it's all over with and you say, "It's all right but I'll take James Brown," I'll say to you, "Listen, friend. That music's not on trial; you are. If you can't read that as glorious music, you don't know what music is. If you make a criticism of music that has been adjudged by time and men to be a masterpiece then the music's not on trial; you are." And let me say this: Jesus isn't on trial anymore either. We know who He is. But you are on trial and by what you do to and with Jesus Christ, you declare judgment on yourself. You pronounce your own sentence. (emphasis added)

Read the entire John MacArthur sermon.

So I ask you, in the words of Christ Himself in Matthew 22:42, "What do you think about the Christ?" Or to speak in the king's english, "What think ye of Christ?" That, says John Newton, is the test.

Stand By Me - Around the World

Saw this on a friends blog last night - some good "happy music."

Fun Stories (to read)

Among my collection of childhood memories is this folder which I decoratively titled, "Fun Stories to Read." I'm assuming this was a school project - submitted in the 3rd grade, yet there's no grade recorded anywhere in or on the folder. So, I'll let you grade it yourself.


I'll post all of the stories from this collection - a few at a time - beginning with this one, for which I have photographic illustration (lest you think I go around making up stories about me & my dad).

My Father and I

The first time I helped my father is when he buillt a shed. It was green and white. It was hard work for me. Because I was only three or four years old.

We both had fun because we got served by my mom. We worked for about 2 hours. finaly it was finished. it loooked real good.

Name two things you like to do with your father.
build models
work on the car

Name two things you like to do with your mother.
Go shopping
read of book

Name three things your family does together.
eat
drive
visit people

Me & my dad building the shed around 1973-74. That shed still stands today.

Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Doghouse

Among many treasures I found at a recent estate sale was this Rand-McNally 1975 edition, Scooby-Doo children's book. The only thing missing is that famous line, "And I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids and their dumb dog! "

Enjoy.

Loser of Comfort... Gainer of Glory

Here are some great thoughts from blogger Tim Challies on the providence of God in human affliction, considering the following passage in John:

“As [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him’ (John 9:1-3).

Tim considers this passage in a modern day context, as he reminds us of the rising numbers of abortions based on pre-natal testing for fetal abnormalities. In a world where you can easily abort and start over if everything isn't perfect, these words are much needed. I can't help but think of several people I know who have recently chosen to carry babies full-term, knowing that, apart from God's miraculous intervention, their child would have a short and/or difficult physical life here on earth. May this meditation on John 9 serve as an encouragement to such parents. (Consider Mighty Molly Mutz)

Tim quotes several Bible commentators on this passage and applies them again to this modern & murderous trend of abortion. Matthew Henry's thoughts were my favorite, including this quote:

“Those who regard [God] not in the ordinary course of things are sometimes alarmed by things extraordinary. How contentedly then may a good man be a loser in his comforts, while he is sure that thereby God will be one way or other a gainer in his glory!”

Or, as Tim applied & paraphrased, "Those who choose abortion are unwilling to lose their comforts that God may gain His glory."

Read the entire article here.

Music Changes Everything

It's not often that I get to use special music in the production of Revive Our Hearts, but when I do it's usually to underscore a dramatic read or some other creative element. And when these rare opportunities come up (they wouldn't be so rare if I were more creative!) I often spend hours (literally) trying to find the right piece of music to fit the piece (we use an audio library called Killer Tracks).

The right or wrong piece of music can make or break the mood of a story - and that's just using audio. When you add video and eliminate the audio, music is even more influential to how the piece is interpreted.

Well, I just saw a fascinating post this week over at the Mental_Floss blog that showed several examples of how music can totally change the mood of piece of video. Chris Higgins posted clips from "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Shining" to easily make his case. You can see all the clips here.

Another mental_floss reader mentioned a Mary Poppins re-mix that gives the same effect. Check it out:

Never underestimate the power of music.

Lunch Box Screen Saver

There's nothing better than opening your gradeschool lunch box and smelling the remains of one of mom's PB & J sandwiches. But the next best thing is having those great metal boxes of nostalgia float around on your computer screen.

Get your free Lunch Box Pad screensaver here.

Wordle Schmurdle

I found a fun online tool last week called Wordle. It's easy to use. You enter any text you want or any url that has an RSS feed, and Wordle creates a word picture. The largest words appreaing in the creation are the ones most used in the text or feed. The first image below was done using my iamchief blog feed. Apparently it uses only recent posts. (Click any image to enlarge)

This next cloud uses the feed from my 88 blog:

A Wordle from JC Ryle's great book "Holiness", this is his first chapter. Can you guess the chapter title?


Here is a Wordle I did using the entire text of the book of Romans (ESV):

A Wordle taken from the ESV text of Psalm 119:

As you can see, you can pick your own colors, fonts & layout. Here are some Wordle images made from presidential inaugural speeches. The creator of Wordle allows anyone to use these images in any way they desire, as long as credit is linked back to his site.

So, try your own Wordle and leave a link to it in the comments section - be creative with a book, poem, Bible passage, speech, whatever - I'd love to see it.

Ransom

This continues a series on Proverbs & Money.

Proverbs 13:7

The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.


Be careful what you ask for. Once again we see that the answer as to who it is that lives on easy street is not as simple as it first appears. In the jungle of life, a big kill always attracts vultures. And while our society doesn’t often encounter the hostage-taking schemes of armed robbers (for which we should be thankful), deep pockets do often encounter softer shakedowns by modern day and glorified extortionist’s who try to get theirs on the backs of the wealthy. Whether it’s the politically motivated “tax-the-rich” propaganda, a contingent-fee hot coffee litigation, a well publicized “charitable” giving campaign, or a self-seeking employee, the rich are seemingly always walking around with a painted bulls-eye placed squarely between their shoulders.

The poor man is spared such trouble. Even if robbers do attack, what is there to lose. “Here take it”, they say, “it’s all I have to give; no big loss”. The poor man pillows his head without the echo of distant threats. If this is our plight, nothing but food and clothing, then with this we will be content.

There is one thing, however, that the shakedown artists of our day cannot exact. Likewise, there is one thing that our temporal wealth cannot ransom. For this hostage, our soul, there is only one method of payment. So, whether rich or poor, we being bound up in the dungeon of our own sin all come as poor beggars with open hands to the feet of our benefactor. This Jesus came not to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many. Let us all make the pleading call to our deliverer and be set free from the tyranny of sin and death.

All posts in this "Proverbs and Money" series were submitted by a friend of Aaron's who wishes to remain anonymous.

The Other Cup

Can we go back to Gethsemane for a few minutes? What kind of a cup was it that Jesus was praying about? What kind of a cup could cause the Son of God to have such fear?
Psalm 75 ... said that the Lord has a cup in His hand which is reserved for the wicked. You and I recognize in our heart of hearts that we deserve our portion of that cup because we have transgressed the law of God. Not a day goes by in which each one of us does not offend God’s holiness in some way. You and I recognize that it’s entirely just for a cup which is reserved for the wicked to be our cup. But do you understand that Jesus was the one human being who has ever lived on God’s earth on whom that cup had absolutely no claim whatsoever? He had kept God’s law in its entirety, perfectly. There was no sin in Him. Perhaps we can feel something of the revulsion that Jesus felt, something of His fear. Three times: “Father, please take this away. God in heaven—anything but this!”

Read the rest of this sermon by the late Ray Dillard.
HT:JT

He Croaked

A death in our family, Kermit (the frog).

R.I.P.
Here lies Kermit
whom I was proud of

Forsaken of God

"Here we are the spectators of a wonder the praise and glory of which eternity will not exhaust. It is the Lord of glory, the Son of God incarnate, the God-man, drinking the cup given him by the eternal Father, the cup of woe and of indescribable agony. We almost hesitate to say so. But it must be said.

It is God in our nature forsaken of God.

The cry from the accursed tree evinces nothing less than the abandonment that is the wages of sin. And it was abandonment endured vicariously because he bore our sins in his own body on the tree.

There is no analogy.

He himself bore our sins and of the people there was none with him.

There is no reproduction or parallel in the experience of archangels or of the greatest saints. The faintest parallel would crush the holiest of men and the mightiest of the angelic host."

Redemption Accomplished and Applied
John Murray
(emphasis mine)

And Can It Be?

I'd like to begin periodically posting some of my favorite hymns. In most cases I'll just post the text and ask that you read it - carefully. Often we become oblivious to a hymn's meaning with familiarity.

I'll begin with probably my MOSTEST favorite hymn (in fact I had to search my own blog & was suprised that I haven't posted it previously). My favorite verse in this Weslian text is the fourth, as it so accurately describes my spiritual awakening. Actually, if you are a believer, this is a good description of your conversion as well. While I may offer caution to the "feel" (pun intended) of verse 5*, I cannot say enough about this hymn.

If you're not used to singing some of the older hymns (I will post newer songs as well), then you may already be scoffing at the antiquated lyrics. Please don't let this hinder you. Here's a few pointer:
Don't necessarily read the text line by line
Replace the archaic words with the more modern word (Thou=You, 'Tis=it's, shouldst... drop the "st", etc.)
Read it out loud, and pause often

And Can It Be
Charles Wesley

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Words: Charles Wesley, Psalms and Hymns, 1738.
Music: Sagina,Thomas Campbell, Bouquet, 1825

*I love the assurance given in the fifth verse, but would argue that the basis of this assurance is God's Word, not voices or feelings.

Slugs, Bugs and the Diligent

This continues a series on Proverbs & Money.

Proverbs 6:6-11; 12:24, 27; 13:4

Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied..


I have a particular disdain for ants, especially fire ants. If you could envision how my hyper-allergic skin reacts when bitten, then maybe you would understand. The initial reaction is one of red, stinging bumps followed by a week’s worth of itchiness, inevitable scratching, and long term scarring. To exacerbate matters, despite all of my super-hero efforts to eradicate the beast from my oversized yard, new mounds form daily in the heat of summer. They mock me with their endless ambition. This scenario leads me to question the very goodness of God in forming such a creature at all.

But my sinful murmurs do not negate the purposes of God. These fiery ants are to serve as a reminder of the glory of God’s wisdom. God created ants for this very day and for this very e-mail. They serve as a loving life-lesson of the blessing of diligence and the curse of sloth.

Being without a master the scripture says, the ant needs no one to tell her why God put her on earth. She does not attempt to usurp God’s created order and authority over the daily means of grace discovered through her hard work. She does what she was made to do. No questions. No arguments. No complaints. DUTY.

Thankfully, though, duty is not all there is for us even though that would be enough. You see the ants weren’t created in God’s image. She doesn’t have the capacity for sorrow and joy. She has never sinned…but has never been redeemed either. We on the other hand have a soul, and this fact coupled with Godly diligence will lead to a soul that is richly supplied. This is motivation that moves beyond duty towards delight. Delight in the service of the best Master one could ever imagine. It moves beyond stuff and towards relationship with a Master who doesn’t need us to work for Him, but allows us to work for Him. All so that we may experience a full heart overflowing from the fullness of His bounty. Thank you God for this joy (and for ants too)!

P.S. I am still going to take to a liberal interpretation of the idea that God has given us dominion over His creation. The fire ant eradication program is ongoing.

All posts in this "Proverbs and Money" series were submitted by a friend of Aaron's who wishes to remain anonymous.

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