who was known to the high priest

Saw this tonight. Then read this thereafter. Not going to review a review, which is a waste of time being once-removed. But the surprising part of the review is the revelation that Cash was some famous Christian.

At no time in my pre-life did I hear he was a believer, and at no time during the walk have I heard he was one, even during the hurrah surrounding his passing in 2003. This little piece mentions the type of faith he held. I'm sure there are others that more completely explain his faith.

I guess it reminds me of the story I heard Miss Massachusetts tell:

There was this man who worked in an office. And he had a coworker who was a notorious lout. One day, the lout became a changed man, and the officeworker heard someone congratulating him on becoming a Christian. This officeworker goes over to the former lout and says to him, "Welcome, brother! I heard you joined us in the kingdom."

"You're a Christian?" the lout asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"You're the reason I didn't become a Christian earlier," the lout replied.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, you have a great job, a great family, a great life. I didn't know you were a Christian, so I thought I could have all that happiness without becoming one."

Zing.

I'm not commenting on the strength of Cash's faith, me being a black-calling pot and all. I guess what I'm saying is that at the end of my life, I hope there isn't ever a doubt.

told you that I am

You might think it's just from this, but actually been in me for far longer. But in reading Matt21 and seeing the frenzied crowd surrounding His entry into Jerusalem, how could you not wish to be among them? To experience that excited energy, nervous energy, expectant energy. To be pressed by the surge to touch His hem, to lay your fronds, to see His face. To scream with the masses your praise, your worship. And to feel His gaze upon you.

But getting back to the intro, what is interesting about Matt21 are v10-11. As other onlookers rush to get a glimpse, and ask the throng who the energy is for, the answer to that question is all important.

Who is He?

He is all that you need and want. He is the One. He is. He is all this and more. And just like then, in the midst of the energy of Jerusalem, the answer to that question today in the midst of the energy of your world, the answer that proceeds from your very mouth makes or breaks your life.

Who is He?

the Baptist came, preaching

"Words from the Wilderness" {Matt3:1-12}
* Intro: What defines greatness?
- World defines it differently than God
- JtheB called the greatest -- greater than Moses, Abe, et al
* Man
- Matt gives no background -- written for Jews already familiar with him (Billy of his day)
- Job not actually baptizing but preaching repentance; Luke1:15-16: bring people back to God
* Message
- Repent: More than regret; actually change of direction
* Motive
- King was coming
- 400 yrs of silence twixt OT/NT over
* Mission
- Prepare hearts for Christ
- Help people see need for God
* Manner
- Unlike other religious leaders of day (rough around edges)
- Like Elij
- Renunciation of pleasures that distract from God
* Ministry
- Confession
- Baptism
* Application:
- Honesty b4 King (confession)
- Submission to King (baptism)
- Fruitfulness for King (works)

Him before, being one

On the first, denied it, crowing cock and all. Possibly a reaction to potential Hallmark sentiments wrapped in ivory. Or possibly a whispering to keep away the trembles. Doesn't matter. Overcome to the listening point. More can be seen here:

I am the maker of the Heavens
I am the bright and morning star
I am the breath of all Creation
Who always was
And is to come

I am the One who walked on water
I am the One who calmed the seas
I am the miracles and wonders
So come and see
And follow me
You will know

I am the fount of living water
The risen Son of man
The healer of the broken
And when you cry
I am your savior and redeemer
Who bore the sins of man
The author and perfecter
Beginning and the end
I am

I am the spirit deep inside you
I am the word upon your heart
I am the One who even knew you
Before your birth
Before you were

Before the Earth I am
The universe I am
In every heart I am
Oh, where you are I am
The Lord of love I am
The King of Kings I am
The Holy lamb I am
Above all things

Yes, I am almighty God your father
The risen son of man
The healer of the broken
And when you cry
I am your savior and redeemer
Who bore the sins of man
The author and perfecter
Beginning and the end
I am

in newness of life

An idea for a larger sermon -- the casting off of burial clothes. Here's the excerpt from an up-and-coming:

"First, if you are a believer, but find yourself distant from him, because of sin or because of apathy, remind yourself of the story of Lazarus. After Jesus raised Him from the dead, do you think Lazarus went around in his burial clothes? Do you think he returned to the tomb at night to sleep? No, what Lazarus did was actively follow Jesus. When Jesus returned for dinner a few days later, all that Lazarus could do was stay by His side. He has given us life the same way He gave Lazarus life. Our old life, that death is no longer ours. Continuing in sinful ways, living our life exactly the same as if we had never met Jesus is like walking around in our burial clothes. Point your feet back to the path, confess to Him that you’ve been away, and join Him for an intimate dinner."

Actually, not sure if there's anything left to be said. Cast off that wormy garb. That death is no longer yours.

hidden these things from the wise

The question was never whether or not this would eventually happen: the question was always how soon? My related question is how on earth did an entire network not know that this would happen? How was this ever greenlit?

Any show that deals with Christian themes but isn't overtly positively Christian or evangelical would only draw criticism from believers. That's a third of the country right there who won't watch it. But you also have a third of the country -- hostile unbelievers -- who won't watch it because they hate all religion. The only possible audience in this divided nation is probably too apethetic to actively seek out such a show.

To me, the lack of overtly Christian shows on major networks proves to me the liberal media bias. Major channels look for popular trends or wide audiences and try to appeal to their tastes. It's why shows have scantily-clad women (appeals to men) and romances (appeals to women) -- the broadest pools possible. So if there are 75 million evangelicals in the country, why on earth aren't there more religious shows? If not for the sake of the faith, for the sake of your ratings? The only answer is because they actively choose to exclude such programming. And they shall answer for that stance in their ratings and on JDay.

how I have been hurt by their

Planned for this past Sunday, I really did. Had a lot to say. Or rather, He had a lot to say through me. Hopefully, will get the chance to actually say that sometime. In the meantime, here's a quick excerpt from a choice section:

"God has a heart that breaks when the hearts of others break. God has a spirit that is moved and is troubled by suffering. John 11:35 paints for us the picture of what a sensitive God we have. He is a God that weeps over us. Yes, this is a God that thunders from above, a God so powerful He can flood the world with a word. But this great and mighty God has a heart for others. God has a soft spot for all of us, and it’s the size of all eternity. I’ve always thought that John 11:35 alone presents the gospel message very simply – a great and powerful God who loves us to the point of tears."

and hide us from the presence

This review has me concerned. The flock will naturally desire to view it, as an automatic attraction to affirming beliefs. But in this case, this apparently isn't affirming anything.

How is it possible to make a missionary movie sans the Lord?!

That's like making a documentary on the history of automobiles without mentioning Henry Ford. Or a flick about Saddleback Church without Rick. Or a film about the life of Goliath without a climax with David.

It is unthinkable how you could remove the heart of their calling and call it a whole. It is not complete without Christ, and the missionaries who died and the missionaries who served would tell you the same thing. You are not telling a story when you ignore the story. Sad, really.

a craftsman made it

"The Intelligent Design Issue"
* 1Pet3:15 indicates need to be ready to answer
* Same evidence available to all
* All have biases; all explanations begin w/biases
* Two kinds of scientists: theists and naturalists
* According to Biblical bias: science a method for investigating created world
* To naturalist bias: science an attempt to explain world without a Creator
* Explanations for origins can be checked against reality
* Law of biogenesis: life canNOT come from non-life
* Consequence of naturalist position: man junk
* Reality agrees with Biblical record
- Newton, Boyle, Pascal, Farraday: all theists
- Information req ID
- DNA record shows 1 woman/man; mitochondrial clock shows 6000 yrs, not millions
* Consequence of theist worldview: man special to God

by this time there will be

At breakfast this morning, and as I repeatedly looked at my watch, it occurred to me that one of the great failings of believers is their concept of time as it relates to God. We are, all of us, quite often punch-clock Christians. We bind God into increments of our schedule.

The worst offenders limit Him only to times of need and high holidays -- the nominals. A step above this are the one-morning Christians, the ones who attend church every Sunday, but don't speak to Him outside of that hour-and-a-half timeslot. Above that are the palm pilot Christians. They're the ones who have Sunday morning carved out; thirty seconds before each meal carved out; perhaps even ten minutes a morning to either pray or read the Word. But when the time is short or the reading is long, aren't they also cutting it short, keeping God in His scheduled slot?

The walk of faith is the struggle to allow Him to extend His concept of time -- eternity -- to our schedules. It is Him taking up the time in our schedules that He has paid for with His blood -- which is all of it -- and inhabiting every second. It is Him removing the watch from our wrist and saying He'll keep track of time for us, just sit back, relax, it's all relative anyway.