but is completely clean

Sometimes I understand why some believers don't listen to Christian music stations: because they make questionable choices about what they air. Whether it is the nonstop Christmas carols from Thanksgiving to New Year's to the random secular choices they play to the terrible song choices written by believers. My case in point today: a new song by some new artist who was called into Christian music according to her bio.

Has she listened to her own lyrics for her song? I have issues with at least two lines. First, the chorus states that because we're on "Your shoulders" we're free to be ourselves. Um, no we're not. Being ourselves is what got us separated from God in the first place, with a need for a cross to bridge the gap. The Bible actually calls us to be like Him, not ourselves.

Secondly, "perfection is my enemy"? No, it is in fact decidedly NOT the enemy. Satan and the world is our enemy. Perfection is actually our goal. That's the whole point of sanctification. In fact, because our base nature doesn't naturally seek perfection, we needed Perfection to save us by dying on the cross for us.

Advice to all Christian musicians: songs that have a world's perspective aren't Christian songs even if they're written and played by a Christian. Go make some more secular albums and once you've gotten it out of your system and can free yourself of the world, then go write some songs from a Christian perspective. Then maybe I can listen to the radio in peace.

and they blasphemed the name of God

For my daily Bible reading this year, I've been using the ESV study Bible instead of my standard NASB. The ESV has been getting raves from believers, including from a few I know who are as extreme fundamentalist (no dancing, no skin showing, no drums in church, etc.) as they come. I don't mind the ESV so much except for two things. First, just like why I hate the NIV and think it's from the devil, it screws up the translation of John3:16 and leaves out the word "begotten".

Second, and what bugs me more, is that just like the weak NIV, they refuse to capitalize the letter "H" when it begins a pronoun that refers to Jesus or God. Now I understand the intent of the translators. It's not grammatically correct since only proper nouns are capitalized and not pronouns. And I understand that the original translations don't include deferential capitalizations, and that it was a western convention to do so. Here's the thing: those are the same arguments that atheists make on why we shouldn't capitalize the word "God".

Do you know that Jews don't say or write out the word Yahweh? Some Muslims won't write the name Allah either. And some people write G-d instead of God as a symbol of respect. That's how much faith means to those people. Who cares about linguistics when you're dealing with the Creator of All Things? The Bible tells us that "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." We have lost our holy fear, we have lost our ability to be reverent when we decide to drop letters for the sake of being grammatically correct. Prots can have their Jesus-as-best-friend concept if that means I also have to sacrifice the reverence instilled by Latin mass and enormous cathedrals.

and will not fade away, reserved in heaven

"The Security of the Believer"
* Just like diff twixt standby flight and reserved seat, diff twixt faith with assurance of salvation & that without
- "Takes some of the joy out of the journey"
- 2Pet2:10a
* Definitions & distinctions
- LCCC Statement of Faith
- Grudem: "The perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again."
- Ryrie: "Eternal security is the work of God which guarantees that the gift of salvation, once received, is forever and can not be lost."
- A secure salvation is a true fact whether one realizes it or not. Thus a believer has security whether or not he has assurance.
* Why do people lack assurance?
- Some doubt their commitment to Christ, or can't pinpoint moment of salvation
- Some question they used correct procedure to express faith in Christ
- Some don't believe security of believer
- Some lack assurance when they sin; although a "normal Christian experience never includes sinlessness"
- Trials cause some to doubt; although they are "crucible in which assurance of faith is formed" {Rom5:1,3-4}
* Arminian View of Security
- Presumptuous to assume knowledge of eternal destiny
- Leads to license to sin
- Counter: salvation NOT a joint effort
* Evidence of Eternal Security
- Purpose of God {Rom8:30, Eph1:5-12}
- Power of God {Jude24, John10:28-29, Phil1:6}
- Death of Christ {Rom8:33-34, John6:39-40}
- Intercession of Christ {John17, Heb7:25, 1John2:1}
- Baptism of Holy Spirit {1Cor12:13}
- Seal of Holy Spirit {Eph4:30}
- His Word guarantees nothing will undo salvation {Rom8:28-39, 1John5:13}
* Problem passages
- Gal5:4 or Heb10:26-31: Appeal to live in liberty of grace rather than legalism
- 1Cor9:24-27, 3:14-15: Loss of rewards rather than salvation
- Heb6:1-8: Fearful consequences of willful sin that doesn't include loss of salvation

and let my declaration fill

During Rick Warren's prayer for President Obama yesterday, Warren quoted (in English) the most sacred of Jewish prayers -- Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad, "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God! The LORD is One!" Wondrous one and I always believed it would be awesome to be Jewish Christians -- how much cooler it would be to see all of the connections twixt the Jewish heritage and Jeshua/Jesus.

I once did a whole communion meditation on the connections between the Lord's Supper and a Passover seder. A quick google search reveals multiple connections to the words of Christ and to the Shema. In Mark12, when asked what the most important commandment was, Christ begins His answer with the Shema in v29 and links that to the first commandment. In John10, when Christ is almost stoned at the Feast of the Dedication, it is because He declares that "I and the Father are one" in v30. Many commentators believe that to be a clear allusion to the Shema, in addition to a declaration of His deity.

I've made fun of seminary before, but if there is a single reason to attend, it would be to learn Hebrew. Maybe that would be a great 2009 resolution...

my soul would choose suffocation, death rather than

Everyone and their mothers will comment on the Inauguration today, and every Christian who voted for Obama will claim victory and rejoice along with the rest of the world. You think siding with the world is somehow a good thing? Those same Christians will rebuke those believers who refuse to watch the celebrity celebration that is the inauguration of Obama, and will rebuke them for turning their backs on someone God allowed into office.

Be clear on this: just because God appoints those in authority does NOT mean He approves of them.

Take your lesson from 1Sam8. The people of Israel almost as one voice cry out for a king, and the Lord is absolutely against it, knowing the evil that will be caused by the man the people adore. God finally allows the people to make their bad decision, leaves them to their own devices. And He then warns them of the wickedness that will be wrought by their chosen leader and tells them "Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."

Israel, meet Saul. America, meet Obama. Believers, meet the fruits of wickedness borne by the seeds of your bad choices.

was still speaking, behold, a crowd

I previously posted some overheard airport conversations. Compared to what I overheard today, those snippets seem completely normal. One of the things that I love about The Office is main character Michael Scott. What makes him hysterical is how completely unaware he is of what he says and how it affects others. One might believe it is impossible to be that self-unaware and this morning's stint at the airport proves that to be wrong.

Sitting literally next to me, a man was on his cellphone speaking to his apparently estranged wife -- not softly, but loudly enough for anyone within 20-30 feet to hear him -- and having the following conversation:

"I can't believe we're having this conversation. I don't want to spend all day flying to get home to you and have the same arguments. (she speaks) Why do you believe that? I'm coming home to you aren't I? (she speaks) You're not going to be happy until I say out loud that I am choosing you over my kids, are you? I would never try to come between you and your kids. (she speaks) I'm coming home, aren't I? I'm your husband aren't I? I haven't hurt you, have I? Or at least much. (she speaks) I'm telling you I don't know. I'm going to hang up if you keep this up, Annette."

I could go on, but it went on like this for no less than 20 min. Loudly. With people around him snickering. It was all I could do not to snicker with them. Of course, I was too busy transcribing his conversation...

has had regard for the humble state of

"The Humility of the Incarnation"
* People say they want to be humble; most want others to think they are humble
* Humility of Mary {Luke1:38}
- Key word: Servant
- Accepted will of Master
* Humility of Joseph {Matt1:24}
- Key word: Obedience
- Obeyed will of Master
* Humility of Christ {Mark10:45}
- Key word: Sacrifice
- Lay down life for others
- Phil2:8
* God values humility {Jam4:4}
- Isa66:2
- Not help those who help self -- help those who humble self
* Consider own response of humility {John3:14-16}
- "I become less; He becomes more"
- Can't fake humility -- well, can but it doesn't take you far eternally
- Become child of God and allow working of Holy Spirit

to reconcile them in peace

I just came through a few week stretch where I wasn't sleeping well. A brother is struggling right now with rest, both physical and emotional. I won't rehash all of my thoughts on the subject of rest. Instead I'll leave it to -- well, who else would I leave it to. I'll go ahead and skip over my usual intro (America's best pastor and so on):

ranks first among the

Here's a comparison for you:

Disciple A: In Mark 5, Christ casts a legion of demons from out of a troubled spirit. The now untroubled spirit instantly recognizes the Master who saved him, and desires to attach himself and follow Him. Christ actually has to command ex-legion to stay in his area and testify of the works of God to friends and family. v18 says that ex-legion is begging Christ to let him accompany Him. He wants so much to be with Christ, he resorts to begging.

Disciple B: Has a commitment to a group of brothers and sisters to gather and fellowship. Even more than the commitment to the brothers and sisters is the commitment to God Almighty to study the Word. Oh, but the playoffs are on Sunday, so....

Hmmm, which one is lukewarm. Difficult, difficult...

shall not follow the masses in

Now THIS is an interesting article. Quick thoughts:
* For the evil NYT, this is a fairly balanced article on religion. I guess a broken watch is right two times a day, and the devil's minions can speak truth every now and then.
* How is it humanly possible to mention the New Calvinists and not mention John Piper even once?! That's like discussing The Lord of the Rings without mentioning the One Ring. Yes, my inner nerd inadvertently likened my favorite pastor to the symbol of evil.
* Love this quote: "There are plenty of comfortable people who can say, ‘God’s on my side,’ ” Harris says. “But they couldn’t turn around and say, ‘God gave me cancer.’"
* I'm reading an interesting book right now that discusses the history of SNL. One interviewee discusses the difference between SNL and the Letterman Show and mentions how SNL cared more about being hip than smart whereas Letterman was the reverse. I'll give you one guess which side Driscoll would come down on in this analogy. That's not a compliment, by the way.
* On the last page of the article, it discusses Driscoll's intolerance of dissent, and how not only did he kick the dissenters out of his church, he called them out on their sin for dissenting against his mandate from God. I promise you -- I promise you -- that I would be the same way if ever I were to start a church. I don't care one whit about becoming a megachurch or pleasing everyone or preventing a split. I care about doing what I think is right by what I believe God is telling me. And if you disagree, the back door is always open, Luke.