signifying by what kind of

Gal6:17 has a term I'd never seen before: the brand-marks of Jesus. This idea of a marking symbolizing your faith makes for a great sermon, I think. There's the point that the brand-marks aren't literal; Lord calls us in John13 to love one another, by that mark others would know we were His disciples. Point one says that the identifier Lord is looking for is love.

Point two can be the allusion to the Lord's own markings. Passion shows us all too clearly what the marks of Jesus are. Lord calls His believers in the SotM and in other places to bear our own cross. Those marks of suffering are to be shared by all. Point two says that the identifier Lord is looking for is perseverance under trial.

Point three can be the cleansing flow before the throne. Lord Almighty will look at you, look at your sin and see not darkness, but crimson-coated light. The mark of the blood of the Lamb says you are His, sealed for eternity. Point three says that the identifier Lord is looking for is His claimed blood.

Branding hurts; I've seen it done to creatures who scream in almost-human pitches. This one requires only submission, which hurts, I know. But the display of that mark is far better than the corporate logos you're paying dollars for, I tell you what. These marks are your ticket to eternity.

shines in the darkness

Beautiful piece on faith. This is what this is all about, isn't it? Looking for pure faith? And the sentiment of this article isn't sports, but faith. World is filled every day with poor witnesses. MSM obviously searches for it. But every now and then the faith is so overwhelming, that not even MSM can miss it, crush it, hide it. Lord tells us not to be bushel-dimmed lights. He means that so that when the occasion arises, no matter the bias or agenda, no shadow strong enough to cover.

waiting for the moving of

Still believe Waiting is my favorite Mullins song, perhaps favorite song period. Loved coming back to it this afternoon. Especially this portion:

So I stand on the promise, 'cause I know that the promise is sure
That it comes from beyond us and tells us again
That there's a whole 'nother world
Well, the one I'm in keeps spinning 'round
But I want to stay right here 'cause I found You

And I can't walk away
Though the truth is that it can be so hard to wait
When a million voices whisper, and they tell me I should leave
Into the shadows that the moon casts
On these alleys and these streets
But I know that chasing shadows won't get me anywhere
'Cause I've been there

So I'm waiting for You Jesus
'Cause I know that those who wait
They will mount with wings like eagles
They will run and not grow faint
They will walk and not grow weary
Their strength will be renewed
Coming from You

It's like he heard the same whispers I hear, calling for you to come to the shadows. And the waiting is hard, making the shadow whispers that much more appealing. Faith builds on its own history. Faith looks back over its shoulder and sees the trend, knows those whispers and those shadows end in emptiness. Faith says waiting, waiting forever if needed, is never a solo activity. Faith says waiting, waiting is easier when fed with strength from light. Can't walk away. Can't.

stand firm and hold to

"Give Me That Mountain" {Josh14:6-15}
* Intro
- Challenge of imparting knowledge to kids
- Caleb one of heroes of faith
- Caleb's characteristics apply not just to fathers but all believers
* Focused pursuit: wholeheartedness (v8,9,14)
- "To follow fully" (hunting term -- survival dependent on full focus)
- 7 times used in OT -- all to Caleb and Josh
- "How can I accomplish God's kingdom goals?"
* Caleb's focus anchored in Word
- v6 (Lord said), v10 (Lord promised, told Moses), v12 (Lord promised, He said)
- No way to fully follow sans knowledge of Word
- Fams need dads to pursue Lord like Caleb
* Undivided heart: conviction
- Conviction: "as it was in my heart"
- Lord sustained Caleb because of his faithfulness
- "One-track heart w/ an eye on the finish line"
- All growth takes place at point of commitment
* Driving intensity: endurance
- Jam1:2-4
- Forget the rocking chair
- "Spiritually exuberant"
* Confidence in Lord: faith
- Resting upon Lord to accomplish impossible
- "Biblical optimist"
- Most important thing to pass on to kids? Love of Lord & heart who continually seeks His will

and I was let down in

Strange to be feeling nerves, more as it approaches. Professional performance anxiety is non-existent, though careers can be made or broken. And yet this? No fear of careers being made or broken, so then what? One might surmise fear of accidental blasphemy, but not the case here, else that might exist in front of a smaller group. One might surmise fear of poor performance in front of family rather than peers. Possible.

In thinking through it, I think it more a case of fear of disappointing the Lord. Given a gift, and asked to use it, and how large the saddened eyes if I fail? In all other cases, no care of opinion or thought, but here? If no care of opinion, then no true belief. Of all the thoughts that count, this one above all.

And liar knows it, too.

woe to the world because

I'm not surprised that Christianity Today would have an article like this. Nor am I surprised that their overall point is that the label and style don't matter. CT is, after all, symptomatic of the larger problem with the faith -- acceptance, tolerance, and an embracing of the larger culture.

I'll save you the wasted time. The last paragraph is enough to tell you where they stand:

But the question persists, because in evangelical circles there's a lot of chatter and concern over whether particular music is "Christian" or "secular." Well—here's a fool's axiom: Both inside the parallel universe of Christian music and in every other universe, the only one who can make music Christian is Christ. No matter what we make of Bazan or Crowder, Rebecca St. James or Michael W. Smith, Mute Math or Newsboys—or, for that matter, U2, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Sufjan Stevens, and a million other acts—when we're talking about music, we'd do well to remember our categories are too simple, too inflexible, and too earthy to contain the truth.

Is that your way of playing both sides, CT? Of condemning some believers while also praising some of the world? Yes, the Lord can use any music to His glory, even the ones not meant to praise Him. Not disagreeing there. But if you think that groups that seek the secular are as noble as those that forsake the world, you are wrong on so many counts, it's not worth discussing.

will not receive many times as much

You don't think prayers work? Then you haven't seen proof of what my prayers (and the prayers of others) have wrought this past month. Take that Brown, Hanks, Satan, et al.

Some figures for you. Opening weekend for Passion? $84 million. Code? $77 million. After 10 days, Passion? $174 million. 10 for Code? $136 million. After 26 days, Passion? $296 million. And Code? $191 million. Almost a hundred million dollar difference after its first month. And this for a multi-year bestseller? Where are all your fans now, liar?

Hollywood won't learn. Maybe they aren't realizing the size of the disparity. That's giving them too much credit. I'm sure they know; my guess is that when all is said and done, they'd rather hate God than make money. That's a powerful sentiment of unbelief. They'll answer before the throne for that.

there your heart will be

Conversed with a brother this morning on the subject of rewards. Alcorn can have his views on crowns and jewels and all other manner of finery apparently awaiting us at the pearly gates. As I've said before, all that's a side bonus to the real treasure of worship before the actual throne. I don't need the mansions; you can have my keys. I'll leave them in the front door for you. That heavenly convertible jaguar? Yours, too.

As I pointed out, if you're serving for the rewards, you're wrong. Not sinful, but wrong. I don't care what v you bring up about rewards and the nobleness of gathering said treasure. If your motivation is rewards, you are wrong. Doesn't want obedience for crowns. He wants obedience for obedience's sake. He wants obedience for love's sake. All other sakes are wrong. End of discussion.

at the table with them

An excerpt from yesterday's Table musings:

"At the Last Supper, the Lord Jesus presented a new perspective on the millennia-old tradition of a seder. Our Lord took the main elements of the Passover meal and invested it with a direct call to remembrance of Himself. My brothers and sisters, come up this evening and reflect upon the intimacy we have with God and with each other in Christ, the broken Messiah, the spotless Lamb who brought us salvation through sacrifice, and the promise of redemption, of a new relationship with God forged on blood-stained wood strong enough to bear the weight of the world."

denied its power; avoid such

"A Heart Affair" {Matt5:27-30}
* Intro:
- Some topics hard to relate to; lust applicable to all
- This culture especially
* Why give up so much for so little?
- Don't know full cost
- Sex powerful
- Sex deceptive
- Starts small & harmless & innocent
* Unrestrained desire is sin (v27-28)
- 7th commandment
- Women as well as men
- Wrong to consummate, but also wrong to want to consummate -- cultivating temptation is sin
- Desire not wrong -- why marriage exists
* Purity is important
- Not just in action but thought
- "Cutting off" analogy not punishment but prevention
- Do whatever necessary to prevent sin
* Practical advice
- Desire an alarm (avert disaster)
- Watch your input (do not linger)
- Dress modestly {IThess4:3-8}
- Work overtime on marriage (prevent desire by meeting each other's needs)
- Run from temptation (i.e. Joe & Potiphar)
- Accept His forgiveness