tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85870392024-03-07T15:08:50.924-08:00wept overi once was blind but now i see once was dead but now i live once was not but now i am once was lost but now am FOUNDWept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.comBlogger1536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-65388759654382737822013-07-16T10:49:00.001-07:002013-07-16T10:49:39.079-07:00for those who are lawless and rebelliousThe internet was set ablaze (as were physical objects like US flags) over the recent Zimmerman verdict. Not going to discuss the rights and wrongs of the decision since everyone and their mother is doing that. What's more important to discuss is the underlying reason the verdict even happened: a secular culture's tolerance for justifying sin.<br />
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Zimmerman's defense rested on one thing: self-defense. Society has laws in place that say murder is okay when you are defending yourself. And it's not just murder. The whole job of lawyers is to make excuses. We rationalize crimes all the time. Examples:</div>
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<b>Lying is not wrong if used in the right occasion.</b> How does this new haircut make me look? Truth: Terrible. Answer: <i>Oh, it's so cute!</i> We justify deceit if we think the consequence of truth is bad.</div>
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<b>Theft is not wrong if it's used against the right people.</b> Isn't that why people love Robin Hood? He steals from the rich? Isn't that why people pirate software? Because wealthy corporations are the victims? We justify larceny if we think the offended party is bad.</div>
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<b>Murder is not wrong if you can justify it.</b> We live in a country that kills babies in the womb by the millions. <i>But we don't want to bring a child into this kind of world</i>, we say. <i>But we aren't ready to be parents</i>, we say. <i>But the child is unwanted</i>, we say. We justify murder if we think our life is in danger, or if our life is simply <i>inconvenienced</i>.</div>
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God gave man reason, and man uses that reason to find excuses for its choice to rebel against God (i.e. sin). The Zimmerman verdict doesn't just illustrate we have a broken legal system. The verdict doesn't just illustrate we have a broken society and culture. The verdict mainly illustrates this: that we have a broken relationship with God. Of all the things that should infuriate us, <i>that</i> is the thing.</div>
Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-27253297922724011812012-04-20T00:20:00.000-07:002012-04-20T00:20:10.334-07:00remembering that night and day forEarlier this week, spent some time with a Catholic priest for research purposes. Left that meeting with a feeling in my heart I couldn't readily identify. Thinking about the past is always interesting, and so want to ponder the past in the next few posts.<br />
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As I type this out in the madness of insomnia at 3 in the morning, I'll simply relate one aspect of the feeling in my heart: fondness. I love the Catholic church, despite the theological differences I have with it. I love it for its sense of divine reverence. I love it for its near-OCD attention to ritual. I love it for its foundational tradition. But most of all, I love it as a married couple loves that recounts their courtship:<br />
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I love it because it was there I fell in love with Jesus.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-48869296843476713442012-03-09T13:52:00.000-08:002012-03-09T13:52:32.802-08:00for My sake, as a testimony to<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I posted about the "<a href="http://www.iamsecond.com/">I Am Second</a>" movement <a href="http://weptover.blogspot.com/2012/02/transformed-beauty-of-his.html">two weeks ago</a>, so this is more an update than a post. But I finished the book, and it was everything I hoped it would be. I posted a review on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">another site</a>, but here it is:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I try not to let my faith influence my reviews because book reviews aren’t the appropriate venue for proselytizing. But when you’re reviewing books about your faith, it’s impossible to do. I Am Second is the book form of a larger movement aimed at getting people to put God first in their life. Their website has a collection of videos of mostly-famous individuals sharing their testimonies about how and (more importantly) why they became Christians. This book shares these same testimonies, but the written form of these testimonies provides more context and is not simply a transcription of the video clips. The book does a great job of sharing testimonies of different people with different struggles all redeemed by God – from the former lead guitarist of Korn discussing how he didn’t find fulfillment in fame/fortune/drugs, to MMA fighter Vitor Belfort discussing how he struggled with pain and happiness, to a couple who overcame divorce through their faith, to a soldier discussing faith and war, to a former prostitute discussing how faith got her off the streets, and more. And while there are only 20 testimonies in the book, there are QR codes that link you to videos of a host of other testimonies. These real people and their real problems all send the same message: that there is a real God who delights in redeeming people who put Him first in their lives. I Am Second presents flawed believers, warts and all. The media likes to sensationalize accounts of professed Christians doing bad things (e.g. Josh Hamilton, who also has a testimony in this book) as if to proclaim the message that Christianity is full of sinners. <i>Well, that is in fact the Gospel message.</i> I highly recommend this book for all Christians; it affirms what you already know is true. If you’re not a Christian, but you’re struggling with big issues, this book shares stories of struggle and the inspiring accounts of people overcoming big issues; I’d recommend this book to you as well. I usually reserve five star ratings for books with exceptional prose telling incredible stories. This book doesn’t have exceptional prose, but the stories are beyond incredible, and because they resonate with my faith, this book is among my favorite books ever. </span></span>Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-89666756599835939842012-03-01T07:47:00.004-08:002012-03-01T07:48:20.210-08:00might have been set free ifUPDATE on yesterday's post. The clip below is the official video for the song 27 Million. Possibly not your cup of tea, <i>but it's message should be</i>...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K69NdzPvwj0" width="560"></iframe>Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-34362692457755346082012-02-29T13:59:00.001-08:002012-03-01T07:46:22.545-08:00to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nnw-89ke9eM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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The trailer above is for a song released this week by Matt Redman whose purpose is to raise money and awareness about slavery still going on in the world. The song premiered at Passion 2012 a few weeks ago, and what I like about the song and its debut at Passion 2012 was the intent of Redman and Tomlin and others to inspire this generation of young believers into action.</div>
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This past week, was learning about human ecology and the role man plays as God's steward to creation. Gen9:9-10 are verses post-Flood where God renews His covenant to Noah, and what the verses let us in on is that God's covenant was not just with man but with all living creatures on earth. The word "dominion" or "rule" from Genesis 1 is improperly taken to mean brute power over nature. Rather, the word implies representation, as in man is representing God's control over Creation. If Gen9 is true, and the interpretation of "dominion" is also true, how does that impact our relationship with nature? <a href="http://creationcare.org/">Some people</a> think it means a greater role in caring for the environment.</div>
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Whether the issue is slavery or the environment or the equality of women or ending poverty, Christians need to have a greater voice in matters of social justice. Not because it's the cool thing to do in emergent churches. Not because culture is important. Not to attract unbelievers. No, we are to act on these issues because Christians need to value what God values. Our hearts need to break for the things that break the heart of God. God's people should not be letting secular organizations take the lead in social justice.</div>
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Two hundred years ago, John Newton and William Wilberforce -- Christians first, social justice advocates second -- led the anti-slavery movement in Britain. They didn't do that out of political motive, but out of Christian reaction to God's calling them to be His hands and feet. Why can the bride of Christ not do such a thing today?</div>Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-70092039819789548642012-02-27T14:33:00.000-08:002012-02-27T14:33:32.365-08:00on bread alone, but on every word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Heard an incredible story yesterday evening when gathered with the brethren. A missionary to Africa told a story that began in 1974. A famine hit an African nation, causing a particular nomadic Muslim to head from the desert where he lived towards the cities to find grain. While in the city, he heard the Gospel message, believed it, but having no other Christians in his area, was forced to keep that faith to himself.<br />
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A decade later in 1984, another famine hit and two other nomads were driven to the cities in search of grain. These two men heard the gospel message and immediately accepted the Savior. Meanwhile, the man who heard the message in 1974 was sitting under a tree when he looked up and saw two birds in the branches. He immediately received a message from the Lord that two men would be bringing him truth. Along comes the two men who had just been saved, and when they come to the first man, they stop to chat, and the Lord's plan unfolds. The first man finds out that these two brothers had decided to follow Christ, and without hesitation, realizing he had fellow followers now, was finally able to proceed with his heart's desire. Nearly three decades later, those 3 faithful have grown to 1000 faithful.<br />
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The best part of the story was the first man's description of what occurred. As he explains it, "God loved me so much He sent me two famines." Did you catch what a remarkable statement that is? African famines literally take away everything a nomad has: his crops, his livelihood, his livestock. And yet two of these extreme events were <i>proof</i> of God's love. It is similar to Paul's declaration in Phil3:8 "<i>I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord</i>".<br />
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More and more I encounter testimonies of remarkable faith and am reminded of my great lack of it. I am learning that God is sending me these encounters not as means of discouraging me, but rather as reminders that I am not alone. Even without these examples, was I ever?Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-25116830292061016532012-02-27T14:14:00.001-08:002012-02-27T14:14:49.964-08:00faithful also in much; and heDo yourself a favor and read <a href="http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Feb12/Art_Feb12_19.html">THIS ARTICLE</a>. It will be the most important thing you read this week, I'm certain of it. This faithful servant has been in the prayers of many for the past year, and will remain in those prayers until he is possibly called home to the Father as a martyr. If there is a greater example of courage than his response "I cannot" when told to return to the religion of his ancestors, I haven't seen it. And comfortable Christians in America complain when someone wishes them a "Happy Holidays" and call it persecution. If you're one of them, maybe you should read that article <i>twice</i>.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-79763666240886871702012-02-27T14:00:00.001-08:002012-02-27T14:00:36.425-08:00scattered, each to his own home<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heard a beautiful new song this morning. Video is below:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love all of the lyrics, but especially those of the third stanza that go:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hear the Savior calling home </i><i>Every soul that's lost their way </i><i>See them turn away from sin </i><i>As they call out the Savior's name </i></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It reminds me of the hymn that I quote in my testimony whose first stanza goes:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I sought the Lord and afterwards I knew</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He moved my soul to seek Him seeking me.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It was not I that found, O Savior true;</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>No, I was found by Thee.</i></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These verses are stirring reminders that we are built for eternity; Eccl3:11 tells us so. Our image is in God, and only in Him will our hearts feel at home. And God knows that that ache in our soul that looks for completion will seek to fill itself in the evils of the world around it, and so He is constantly calling for our attention, calling for us to come home. There is no place I'd rather be. </span>Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-76111142814302528292012-02-21T14:11:00.001-08:002012-02-21T14:11:10.507-08:00transformed the beauty of HisI can't remember if I wrote about this movement or not, but if I did, they deserve to be written about again. Everyone needs to visit <a href="http://www.iamsecond.com/">I am Second</a> and watch all of the video clips. The wondrous one got me the book for Valentine's Day, and I can't wait to read through testimonies though I've already seen them in the video clips. These are people publicly declaring their secondness to the One.<br />
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There is no more beautiful thing in all the world than the testimony of a believer describing how he/she came to Christ. <i>Absolutely nothing more beautiful</i>. The greatest miracle is not some surprising healing; it is not the parting of a sea; it is not the exorcising of demons. No, the greatest miracle is a depraved soul becoming redeemed. And no matter the path taken to that redemption -- whether it's a sudden heartchange after a lifetime of evil, or whether it's the lifelong following in a household of faith -- every path requires God to turn blindness into sight, death into life, lost into <i>found</i>.<br />
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No, there isn't anything more beautiful than that.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-78140668929703861232012-02-13T13:28:00.000-08:002012-02-27T14:02:47.872-08:00they are stains and blemishesThe embedded clip below is a modern version of the classic hymn "Just as I Am". Take a listen:<br />
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The underlying message of the original hymn is that we come to God in a broken state. The new version adds a chorus with beautiful lyrics that emphasize this central theme:<br />
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<i>I come broken to be mended. I come wounded to be healed.</i><i>I come desperate to be rescued. I come empty to be filled.</i><i>I come guilty to be pardoned by the blood of Christ the Lamb.</i><i>And I am welcomed with open arms, praise God, just as I am.</i></blockquote>
No one enters eternity without having first looked at the sorry state of their soul, realized the gross imperfection of it, and begged the Almighty for a renovation. The proud will be turned away when they admit no soul weakness. The defiant will be turned away when they rationalize their soul's stature with an empty defense of being good enough. Down the path of defending one's imperfections lies failure.<br />
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But the good news of God is that no soul comes so broken, no soul comes so wounded, so empty, so guilty, or so dirty that the love of God cannot bring it back to glorious life. The cross fixes that broken. The cross binds that wound. The cross fills that empty. The cross, the empty tomb. The cross frees the guilty, replaces it with a Son. The cross cleans that dirty through the blood of the One. Just as you are, redeemed by just who He is.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-85909438042963005672012-02-08T20:23:00.001-08:002012-02-13T13:30:36.138-08:00do not know what He isI hope it's clear from my post <a href="http://weptover.blogspot.com/2012/02/please-watch-and-listen-to-this-new.html">the other day</a> that I am a big fan of the new Jason Gray song "Remind Me of Who I Am". My listening to it about twenty times in the last 24 hrs might be the other clue. So it pains me to say this: the song is fundamentally flawed.<br />
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The issue is that the song is self-focused. God is mentioned; the song is a direct plea to the Lord certainly. But God is not the focus of the song. The focus of the song is the individual. The spiritually mature understand that the Christian life should lead you to a place that is 100% Him and 0% us. As JtheB puts it in John3:30, "He must increase, and I must decrease".<br />
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Moreover, getting an individual to understand who he is in Christ is a good starting point, but better than that is getting the individual to see the greatness of God. We grow as believers not when we are reminded of who we are, but rather when we are reminded of <i>Who He is</i>.<br />
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Remind me of Who He is. Oh, that's right. <i>The Almighty Sovereign One</i>. In that case, I surely, surely must decrease...Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-29085478584554054292012-02-07T11:20:00.000-08:002012-02-07T13:00:05.653-08:00of Christ—I who am<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwZdyOi3BACf9kh-w3A7GMTNM3FOuPkTVFjfwf6gVEa4rTtIXD_oS40gPuMIFfr15VFObsquwrGG5nQYNPQx9AbulQwGmc44W6DD8qa9yB6hympSDQXqATVy4L-f3TZhZb5pR/s1600/9730ID_badge.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwZdyOi3BACf9kh-w3A7GMTNM3FOuPkTVFjfwf6gVEa4rTtIXD_oS40gPuMIFfr15VFObsquwrGG5nQYNPQx9AbulQwGmc44W6DD8qa9yB6hympSDQXqATVy4L-f3TZhZb5pR/s200/9730ID_badge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706479454789237330" /></a>There's a message bouncing around my head about identity, somewhat related to yesterday's musings. There lies within our souls a need to identify itself -- it's the reason so many hippies talk about taking sabbaticals and traveling the world to "find themselves". And if you find hippie speak ridiculous, hello pot, kettle wants your ear. We all place our identities somewhere. Sports fans paint their faces and buy team gear to say something about themselves. Type A career-focused folks think their toil translates into wealth and private comfort and careers that say something about the toiler. Models think their skin-deepness is deeper, that it speaks to an inner person. What is Facebook if not our public declaration of "Look at me! I'm somebody!"<br /><br />In the end, our activities will fail us. Our toil will tire us. Our looks will fade like the wildflower. And all the social network contacts we have will not construct a true image of who we are. There is no human self-identification that will last beyond the memories of friends or history books, nor mean something at an eternal level.<br /><br />Except who we are in Christ Jesus. And who we are in Christ is not rooted in something within us, but rather in something within God. That we are His beloved, the apple of His eye, His children -- these all emanate from His central nature as perfect love rather than from the less-than-perfect nature of ourselves. <br /><br />You can chase those championship rings and that next promotion and that extra-smooth skin and that 500th friend. As for me, I am my Beloved's and My Beloved? My Beloved is <i>mine</i>.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-53608430599500542942012-02-06T14:14:00.000-08:002012-02-07T22:34:19.417-08:00the beloved of the LORD dwell inPlease watch and listen to this new song by Jason Gray:<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QSIVjjY8Ou8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Listening to it on repeat and there rises in my heart the familiar feeling, the one I had when I first turned my soul over into the hands of eternity. Similar to a lesson I've taught twice now on Luke 8. Every human being will be forced to confront the reality of Jesus Christ and respond in a way that will reflect what they come away with. Many will turn away in disgust and anger and reject Him outright. Others will shrug and go away, an end result no different from the ones who left in disgust and anger. Some will accept Him intellectually. Or out of fear of damnation. Both will see heaven's gates, but miss out on the great joy of the best response.<br /><br />That best response is seeing Jesus for the first time and looking into your heart and noticing an emptiness that had always been there and upon seeing Jesus realizing that what that emptiness really had been was a God-shaped hole, a Christ-shaped hole, in reality a hole from where love leaked out of your heart. And here was love personified, filling that leak and telling you the greatest of news, that no matter what the world thought of you, He thought of you in only one way, the only way that mattered. That He loved you. That you were beloved. That you were priceless to Him. And you run into His light and you finally admit to yourself that no matter how much you found yourself unlovable, love personified did not.<br /><br />Sometimes, sometimes I need to be reminded of that.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-26974491812040264622010-03-26T12:15:00.000-07:002010-03-26T12:19:00.778-07:00so that we may see, and believe YouThe video below is a rather long one, but it's worth listening to in its entirety to hear Anne Rice's amazing testimony of how she left the faith, but was "Christ haunted" and how the Lord dragged her back to Him out of His great love. And if you don't want to listen to the full video, listen to the last two minutes. If you told me a decade ago that Anne Rice would one day preach the Gospel message, I wouldn't have believed you. But the Lord can save <em>anyone</em>. Anne and I are living proof.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CSIlH2AzzL0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CSIlH2AzzL0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-79628287969439989802010-03-08T11:32:00.001-08:002010-03-08T11:43:49.950-08:00if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord"Under the Wings of God" {Ruth2:12}<br />* Review Ruth1<br />- Time of judges; no kings; spiritual dark ages {Ruth1:1}<br />- Elimelech & Naomi didn't wait upon Lord and moved to foreign country (end result three deaths)<br />- Naomi now Mara or "bitter" (v19)<br />* Scene 1: A "chance" encounter (v1-3)<br />- Boaz = "in whom strength"<br />- Gleaning laws show God's heart for those in need {Deut24:19-22}<br />- v3 "happened to happen"<br />* Scene 2: Ruth meets Boaz (v4-7)<br />- Boaz clung to Lord during dark days (v4-5)<br />* Scene 3: Boaz cares for Ruth (v8-17)<br />- Protects her from physical/verbal abuse<br />- Allowed her to drink from servants' H2O<br />- Invited her to lunch<br />- Granted her acceptance/legitimacy<br />- Ps57:1 -- God takes care of those who take refuge in Him<br />- Rom8:28 -- "no accident can happen to a child of God"<br />* Scene 4: Ruth brings home a good report<br />- v20b: closer relatives = "kinsmen redeemers"<br />- Naomi recognizes God's hand in their situation<br />- Story of Ruth is picture of Gospel message -- stranger/foreigner shown abundant kindness<br />- Spurgeon: "our glorious Boaz" in reference to ChristWept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-81167794490387998732010-02-26T11:26:00.000-08:002010-02-26T11:34:34.941-08:00bearing His own cross<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtx3MExWvzx5ME3MulsEtegRpjlqBstHuCwMQzZk2vUCP-N0viNZ51t-I3j7fCVl05UwalDAhGaBw7OIRUJRjH9TUCKcUTGnus12QomnUvxRNBqAp8LWX3dTVH8kRJlw1BdQQ/s1600-h/Cross6.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtx3MExWvzx5ME3MulsEtegRpjlqBstHuCwMQzZk2vUCP-N0viNZ51t-I3j7fCVl05UwalDAhGaBw7OIRUJRjH9TUCKcUTGnus12QomnUvxRNBqAp8LWX3dTVH8kRJlw1BdQQ/s200/Cross6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442637731555398130" /></a>I haven't done well maintaining any consistency in meditating here. But that's not to say meditation isn't occurring. Already paralyzed with <em>great fear</em> about Good Friday even though I stand firm in the Spirit He has given me and the message He placed on my heart. So plenty of meditation on the cross already. Even moreso, after reading <A HREF="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/02/15/why-the-cross-matters/">THIS</A>. That article is as must-read as anything I've ever read, and speaks to everything I see and feel when I think of Christianity. The cross is THE central aspect of the gospel for me, period period period. And the article eloquently speaks to the fight I fought to change our church's vision to what it should be. Simply put, while we are a faith that holds the Trinity to be true, our faith is and always should be a Christ-centered faith; a cross-centered faith. In a grand fantasy where I force the church to bend to my will -- I didn't say it was a good or healthy fantasy -- the only thing I was demanding was the pervading presence of <strong>the cross on every</strong> available square inch. You can bet the farm Bethel will be covered by the cross in every way you want to read into that.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-63049071833821008362010-02-15T18:50:00.000-08:002010-02-15T18:57:00.123-08:00to whom he had given the money"How Do I Honor God w/ My Finances?" {Prov3:9-10}<br />* What does it mean to honor God?<br />- To value; show respect/high regard<br />- We honor by obedience<br />- 2Cor8:7: "grace of giving" -- giving not natural, & requires His Spirit & grace<br />* Why teach on giving?<br />- Stewardship is discipleship {Matt6:21}<br />- Often misunderstood by flock<br />- Area of potential great blessing<br />* Basic level: initial gift {1Cor16:1-2}<br />- Offering part of worship (not separate or interruption)<br />- Should be systematic (whenever paid)<br />- Proportional: "all about what God allows to come into our lives"<br />* Is tithing for today?<br />- No revocation of tithing in NT (unlike other OT acts like kosher food)<br />- Same principles still apply (honoring God for what He has given)<br />- Jesus commands tithing<br />- Tithing existed prior to Mosaic law<br />- Being under grace never implies lesser standard<br />* Obedience level: full tithe<br />- Partial obedience = disobedience<br />- Mal3:8-10, Deut14:23, Matt23:23<br />* Peak level: generous giver {2Cor8-9}Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-20070986963821781402010-02-11T11:50:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:22:47.491-08:00of the dogs, beware of the evil workers<A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/10/texas.church.fires/index.html?hpt=Sbin">ELEVEN churches</A> have been burned down this year in the state of Texas. ELEVEN. That hasn't gotten the top headline in any newspaper or website that I've seen. Can you imagine what kind of outcry it would have been if 11 mosques or 11 synagogues had been deliberately set on fire this year? But it's okay because there are lots of churches and it's okay to commit hate crimes on Christians.<br /><br />Enjoy the swim in the lake, media and society. FYI: <em>Going to be a little warm</em>.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-18641460807069870342010-02-08T06:08:00.000-08:002010-02-08T06:35:20.717-08:00also joined in the attackDrove to church yesterday and listened to snippets of an interview with Dan Merchant, the creator of <A HREF="http://www.lordsaveusthemovie.com/">a ridiculous film</A>. It's a documentary exploring the culture wars and the filmmaker's belief that because Christians spend so much time arguing over topics like homosexuality and abortion, we are turning off potential converts. Merchant contrasts an African church he visited with the church in America, and wonders aloud why we spend so much time with culture stuff, and not so much time with the Gospel. It's a common argument being espoused these days: less politics and more Jesus and all our problems will be solved like magic VOILA!<br /><br />* Problem#1: Merchant and believers in the "Christianity would be great if it weren't for the Christians" mantra operate under the assumption that people can somehow subvert the will of God. It is the opposite of the evangelical position on election. They believe that there's this ready and willing world dying to hear about the good news of God and they hear it but also hear that we don't believe in evolution, and oh no, there's a person who won't get led to Christ. Be clear that no man, Christian or otherwise, can stand in the way of God's will for a person's destiny. Secondly, no man, Christian or otherwise, saves another person. God saves, and God saves alone. I can no more bring a man to faith as I can prevent him from coming to faith, no matter my level of conflict and aggressiveness.<br />* Problem#2: No person rejects Christ because they don't like Christians. People reject Christ because they reject His message and His divinity. There is no example of someone saying "I believe Christ is the Savior of the world, the atonement for my sin -- oh, but because that Christian called me a name because I'm pro-choice, I reject Christ". It's absurd. People reject Christ because they want to continue to live in their sinfulness. People reject Christ because they don't want to submit their lives to another. People reject Christ because the Holy Spirit hasn't yet opened their eyes, and they are hardened like Pharaoh. But people don't reject Christ because people attend loud pro-life rallies.<br />* Problem#3: What a ridiculous contrast between an African church and an American church. The African church doesn't confront culture wars because their culture isn't at war. It's like comparing Switzerland to inner-city Detroit. Oh, you don't see drugs and gun issues in Switzerland, but you do in Detroit? Oh, that's because that comparison is ridiculous. In the same way, African churches can focus on the love and dancing and joy, and American churches have to deal with homosexuality and abortion. Because our culture demands the fight. <br />* Problem#4: The Gospel message is absolutely central, yes, and should be at the heart of everything a church does, absolutely. But downplaying the issues that are at the heart of the culture wars as something trivial is playing into the devil's hands. You know why there is a war over Creationism vs evolution? Because evolution attacks the literalness of the Scriptures, and attacks the Bible from the very beginning in Gen1. You know why there is a war over abortion? Because abortion is the opposite of the Gospel message of life. You know why there is a war over homosexual rights? Because homosexuality attacks the gender creation and family structure designed by God. The culture wars are not wars over condiments or favorite colors. They are wars over critical and central concepts of God. They are not facets of religion; these are things that offend the person of God, and as His followers, we are to defend His positions. These wars are not culture wars; they are spiritual wars based in <strong>and fought in the realm</strong> of the unseen.<br />* Finally, problem#5: Merchant implies that the original church never had these issues. Maybe if we simplified the church into focusing on people and the Gospel message, that all could be right in the world. Has Merchant ever read the NT? Most of the epistles are instructions and clarifications from Paul trying to quell issues in the church. Paul writes 1Cor15 to knock down churches that fought over whether or not the resurrection was important. Paul writes 1Cor11 to straighten out churches with issues about worship. Paul writes letters to discuss whether food should be kosher, whether rich people are better than poor people, whether it is works that save us or faith, et al. The original church was just as argumentative and divisive as the modern church. And for Paul, there was a very clear right and wrong, and he fought to defend the right side, and often very loudly and aggressively. Christ turned over tables when if offended His Father. Shall we not be filled with righteous anger when our Father is offended?<br /><br />Merchant, you think you are helping Christians build bridges with an unbelieving world. The unbelieving world will always be there, whether we hold an olive branch or not. <em>But the defense of the things of God will not always be there if we are not</em>.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-43007884208223163382010-02-07T22:02:00.000-08:002010-02-08T06:08:15.365-08:00root of all kinds of evil"How Do I Overcome the Desire for More?"<br />* Materialism: A condition where the heart is preoccupied w/ material things rather than spiritual things<br />* Two big lies<br />- Money will solve my problems & success will make me happy<br />- I want the best of both worlds {Mark4:18-19}<br />* Roadblock#1: Pride {1John2:16}<br />- Solution: Know God as Provider & Owner {1Chron29:11-12}<br />- Self-worth cannot be tied to net worth<br />* Roadblock#2: Guilt<br />- Solution: Develop attitude of gratitude & accountability<br />- "Gratitude subverts greed"<br />* Roadblock#3: Envy<br />- Solution: Learn to admire without need to acquire {Phil4:11}<br />* Roadblock#4: Selfishness (closedhanded living)<br />- Solution: Learn the secret of generosity {Deut15:11}Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-53191213354457650942010-01-19T18:42:00.000-08:002010-01-19T18:57:29.608-08:00as an example, and they were written forAnother sermon (book?) idea for when they increase the number of hours in a day from 24 to 40 so I'll have time to actually do stuff...<br /><br />David addresses the Israelites in 1Cor28, but it's 1Cor29:10-20 that caught my eye. In these verses, after he has told them about Solomon succeeding him and about plans for the temple, that David offers up a prayer to God. And it's a sound model for prayer and perspective on life.<br />- Like the Lord's prayer, David begins with an exaltation of God, thanking Him for being the source of all things, for being sovereign.<br />- Love that v11 attributes victory to God.<br />- The start of v14 has a dose of humility, a recognition that we deserve nothing. And v16 acknowledges the riches they have are really the Lord's.<br />- In v17, David uses spiritual logic noting that he deserves nothing, that the Lord tests the heart (not the action), and therefore he righteously offers his sacrifices. And he offers them <em>with joy</em>.<br />- In v18, David pleas for God to move the hearts of the people. David is focused on their intentions and their hearts, not their actions.<br />- In v19, he prays for the Lord to move his son's heart. Solomon is known for his wisdom, but it was a proper heart <strong>that first asked</strong> for wisdom rather than riches. And that heart began here with David's prayer for the Lord to provide that heart.<br />- David ends where he began -- with a corporate blessing and worship to God.<br /><br />Hey, pastors all over the country: when preaching on prayer, the Word provides a lot of examples of Godly prayer beyond the Lord's prayer. Maybe you can mix things up a little. <em>I've got a good start for you already</em>.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-17079499611661837612010-01-15T12:47:00.000-08:002010-01-15T14:12:45.932-08:00of the fierce wrath of GodThe only thing on the news is the <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/15/haiti.updates/index.html?hpt=T2">situation in Haiti</A>. The bulk of individuals' responses to the suffering is an outpouring of prayer (for missionaries, for those hurt, for recovery, etc) and financial support. A few have been expressing great sorrow and struggling (yet again) with how a loving God allows suffering in the world. And not surprisingly, people like Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh say Haiti was asking for it.<br /><br />The outrage from Christians against Pat and Rush is somewhat surprising to me. There is an immediate expression of rage, and a declaration that most Christians don't agree with these buffoons, and that God is a loving God and this is just a senseless tragedy. But I almost feel as if their reaction is not out of some righteous anger at bad theology, but rather simply to distance themselves from an unpopular opinion. I don't know if Christian outrage at Robertson's and Limbaugh's comments are because they so dislike the theology of their remarks, or because they don't want to be associated with unpopular people.<br /><br />But let's say it was because they disagree with the theology. I don't think the theology is wrong. Throughout the Old Testament, God strikes down not just people, but <em>whole nations</em> who defy Him and mock His ways. In Revelation, the prophecies of what will happen to the nations that are against God are clear. It is an immensely unpopular opinion to say that a loving God who sent His Son to die because He so loved the world is the same God who is quite capable of sending disasters to strike down His enemies. Many Christians state that vengeance is the Lord's and that they can't wait until He rains down justice. But <strong>then when something</strong> horrible happens, they squirm and wonder how God reconciles suffering with love. Just like Pat and Rush shouldn't speak for all Christians on what God's intent was behind massive disasters, I'm thinking maybe the Christians who disagree with their positions shouldn't either.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-34817477715956591732010-01-14T08:09:00.000-08:002010-01-14T08:19:21.170-08:00sternly telling him to be quietBeen a long while. Still trying to decide the point of all this. When this began <A HREF="http://weptover.blogspot.com/2004_10_01_archive.html">so long ago</A> it was about figuring out where the walk was headed, and what He was saying. I guess that exploration still remains. I guess? Perhaps that exploration isn't and shouldn't be so loud anymore. Perhaps?<br /><br />In any case, the first sentence of 1Chron20 took my breath away: <em>"Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel."</em><br /><br />First, it is a clear reminder that our fight is not against flesh and blood, and that the shadows, they are very real, and that lion is always waiting to pounce upon you, always waiting at the door. And perhaps in moments of being away and moments of confused silence, it is clear Satan is still so very strong, still so often victorious.<br /><br />Second, it highlights that there are times when Satan lets things occur. God is still sovereign over all things, no question. But Satan is also very much in control of this world. 1John2 makes a very clear distinction between those of God and those of the world, indicating the world is not of the light. And it is clear that Satan lets the world have its own ways. But then at times he has to get off that brimstone throne of his and press his advantage and move <strong>things toward darkness</strong>. And even something as seemingly innocuous as a decision on counting people can be used against us.<br /><br />Perhaps not regularly committing myself to exploring my walk, exploring where all this goes opens that door keeping that lion at bay. Perhaps thinking more about light and darkness is critical in staying true. Perhaps silence is a sign of Satan standing up, suggesting some innocuous (in)action. <br /><br />Perhaps.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-48990212585180472942009-12-13T13:13:00.000-08:002009-12-13T13:41:09.210-08:00as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes"Jesus, Light of the World"<br />* <A HREF="http://breadsite.org/lyrics/444.htm">O Come Let Us Adore Him"</A><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X2McgKkUChA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X2McgKkUChA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />* <A HREF="http://longhollowband.com/redeemerking.mp3">Redeemer King</A><br />* Jesus, Light of the World (no idea real song name)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BFRaZPOPWXs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BFRaZPOPWXs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3iSivQmzJ_w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3iSivQmzJ_w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/he9BdHNrXTs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/he9BdHNrXTs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M7670CXvPX0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M7670CXvPX0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />* Heaven's Light (no idea real song name)<br />* Luke 1:78-79<br />* <A HREF="http://www.greatworshipsongs.com/song_info.asp?return=songlist.asp%3F&SongId=753">Because of Your Tender Mercy"</A><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.tangle.com/flash/swf/flvplayer.swf" FlashVars="viewkey=427e9dcb6ab79fba4eaa" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="tangle" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed>Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587039.post-46047691467326507042009-12-03T21:32:00.000-08:002009-12-03T21:56:00.095-08:00how much more will your heavenly Father giveI posted a clip of Voddie Baucham more than <A HREF="http://weptover.blogspot.com/2009/10/he-would-not-have-allowed.html">a month ago</A>. In it, he half-answers the question of why does God allow suffering to exist by reframing the question around God's sovereignty and turning the question to how is it possible a holy God lets me live. It is a factually correct perspective in the sense that all of us should be grateful for whatever we have, and God owes us nothing at all, and God can do whatever He wants. All of this is true. But two things occurred to me today that make me question the relation of this perspective to the Gospel.<br /><br />One: I had to inform my employees that they were receiving bonuses, but the bonuses were drastically reduced from prior year amounts. The talking points given to me by HR to recite made it seem like the message I was supposed to send them was "It's a tough economy, you are lucky you have a job, and you are lucky to get any bonus whatsoever." While all of that is true, there is no grace in reminding them of their luck to then reframe their disappointment into some sort of joy.<br /><br />Two: My daughter was hoping to get new earrings today. After getting her ears pierced several weeks ago, today was the day she was told she would be able to switch from the basic stud to different earrings. Because I was disappointed in one of her school grades, I chose not to get her new earrings even though I had told her we'd consider going afterschool to get some. My reasoning to her was that I was disappointed in her grades, and this was one of the punishments she was receiving. Again, factually true, and a teaching moment that actions have consequences, no doubt. But was there also not a teaching moment here on grace had I gotten her earrings? <em>That she deserved nothing but punishment and instead received a gift of love?</em><br /><br />A holy God owes mankind nothing. True. Sinful man deserves nothing but condemnation. True. After the very gift of life and breath, everything after that is a bonus. True. We should repeat these facts again and again because it gives us the proper perspective on God. <em>False</em>.<br /><br />The good news of God is that despite what we have earned, He loves us and by His loving grace, He offers us abundant life. That is the repeatable message. That He is a loving Father, one who is not prone to reminding us at every turn that everything is His and He can do whatever He wants. That He is a loving Father, one who is not prone to lording His sovereignty and supremacy over us again and again. That He is a loving Father and despite the fact that we disappoint Him every single day with the grossness of our sin, He blesses us beyond measure. That is the Gospel: love and grace <strong>and mercy over</strong> condemnation. Sorry, Voddie. That's how I choose to remind myself of who my Heavenly Father is, and who my Savior is -- He loves me, not I'm not dead, woo hoo.Wept_overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00080730931007847408noreply@blogger.com0