New York

Here's the link to Nathan & Lesley's church, Cornerstone Church at Bay Ridge, in Brooklyn, New York. Our team will be serving with them this Fall. Please pray for them as they prepare for their very first service this Easter Sunday (April 24).

Music Recommendation

Smokie Norful is one of gospel music's most gifted artist. He's a terrific writer and one of the most amazing singers you'll ever hear. Start by checking out his 2002 recording I Need You Now. The title track from this album was recently featured on the television show "American Idol."

Why Does God Want Us to Sing?

The Human Voice in Congregational Worship

The Importance of Singing Truth

Truth and Music

Music Recommendation

New Music Recommendations has been posted on Thursdays, even though new music is almost always released on Tuesdays. Well, I've decided to go with the "new releases" day. Since starting this post a few weeks ago, I've recommended one brand new release as well as some older releases/ministries I thought would be helpful. So, with that said, here is the first Tuesday installment of the more appropriately named Music Recommendation. It comes from a ministry I've recommended previously, Sovereign Grace Music. Their new recording, Risen, released today (3/22/11).

The Atonement

Even if it's not your thing musically, you should listen to this...

Friends

"Packing up the dreams God planted in the fertile soil of you. Can't believe the hope He's granted..."

Oh, sorry, didn't mean to get carried away. That song just gets me every time. But seriously...
Friends are worth singing about. They aren't automatic and real ones aren't easy to come by. If you have one or two genuine friends, consider yourself extraordinarily blessed. I'm not talking about Facebook friends, or friends that keep you up-to-date on the latest gossip, but real life friends that reflect Christ and help you love Him more. You smile when you see them, you laugh and cry when you're with them, you pray with them and for them, you're sad when you part ways, and your life is better, even fuller, for having been with them. You actually want to serve God more faithfully because of their example. In the past week I have talked with, or been with, some of these kind of friends. I thank God for their friendship and for all the ways that He has used them to enrich my life and the lives of my family.

"And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them..."

New Music Recommendations

This week's recommendation is Indelible Grace. For the past several years I have been encouraged greatly by this ministry. They were one of the first, in a growing number, to take hymn texts, full of rich theology and doctrine, and set them to new music. If you've never heard any of their music, I would recommend starting with the first, which is called Indelible Grace, and working to date. They're all good.

The Background Vocalist

In light of the addition of singers teams to our Sunday evening services, check out this very practical video on some of the ways you can be a more effective background vocalist.

Christ Is Risen

Our next new congregational song is Christ Is Risen by Matt Maher. The choir will start learning it on Wednesday, March 16, and the band will start learning it on Sunday, March 20.

On My Mind

The very first thing that ran through my mind this morning was, "The alarm clock is going off!" The second thing that ran through my mind was, "Man, it's early!!!" Not only was it early, it was EXTRA early because of Daylight Savings Time. After these two less than comforting thoughts, my mind drifted into auto-pilot for several moments, but not much time passed when a totally unrelated thought came to mind. "And if our God is for us, then who can stand against us." I saw Chris Tomlin the night before, so the thought and the song were fresh on my mind. The next thought that came to mind was, "In my place, condemned He stood." The more I thought about it, the more thankful I became. There are so many ways that God is for us, but the most amazing way is Jesus standing in our place, for our punishment. God for us in Christ. Righteousness for condemnation. Glory for shame. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

So Whose Will Was It?

This Sunday our pastor will be preaching through Luke 23:18-25. As I read through the passage again, one of the things that strikes me is who appears to bear the responsibility of Jesus' death in verses 24 & 25. "So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will." Did Pilate, the religious leaders, and the angry mob really determine the end of our Lord? How did Pilate decide, and they demand, and he release, and they ask, and he deliver, and they have this specific will?

Consider Isaiah 53...

• "It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief..."
• "the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
• "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted."

Praise the Lord for His sovereign grace!

New Music Recommendations

The newest installment of music from Passion.
Featuring music from Passion regulars, Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels,
David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, and Passion newcomer, Lecrae.

Pray for Ethiopia Today...

... and for those waiting to adopt from that country.

To sign a petition regarding the 90% reduction in adoptions from Ethiopia, go here.

Rain

Rain.
Distorting the glass.
Remembering the past.
The dryness of yesterday.
The memory of what I did and didn't say.
Trying to see.
Struggling blindly to be.
New.
And then the Son comes.
Covering me with His ransom.
Life breaks forth.
Hope is born.
Restored again, my heart no longer torn.
I'm clean.
Washed away what might have been.
And suddenly just like then.
The sun shines bright at last.
Reign.

Daylight Savings Time

Set your clocks forward one hour this Saturday, March 12

One Way? Really?

So here's the question?
Does "ONE WAY" really mean one way?

And here's the answer.
Based on the reaction of one of Montgomery's Finest, we'll call him Officer Meanface, I would say the answer is most definitely yes. Not only that, I believe I can say categorically, and without hesitation, that when a "ONE WAY" sign is posted, they are to be taken seriously. Dead serious. I will not discuss how much the fine was, but let's just say I didn't eat Taco Bell for the next few weeks. That's serious!

There has recently been much discussion, in certain circles, about the nature of heaven and hell, including who goes there, how one reserves themselves a spot, and why it matters. Although much could be said, and much has been said by others much wiser than I, I would like to share two thoughts regarding the discussion.

First...
Isaiah 53:6 - "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way..."
Each of us, meaning every human to ever live, is going a certain way. Sadly, it's the wrong way. The Bible is clear, we are all traveling the wrong way and there are dire consequences. Proverbs 16:25 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." We will pay eternally for our ill-fated drive down the wrong way. Yes, it's sad. Yes, it sounds harsh. But actually, it's no harsher, in terms of fairness, than the punishment I received from Officer Meanface. I was going the wrong way! It's what I deserved.

Second...
John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
The only way to God, the ONE WAY that will keep us from the justified punishment of God, the only way for us to experience abundant life now and eternal life later, is through Jesus Christ. Through His sinless life, substitutionary death on the cross and glorious resurrection, Jesus has taken our debt. In Christ, we are right with God. No more Meanface! Colossians 2:13-15 says, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

New Music Recommendations

The latest project from Bethel Church

How Deep Is Your Love?

Which couple is more married? The husband and wife enjoying the first days of their honeymoon or the 75 year old man who sits steadfastly at the bedside of his terminally ill wife? The answer is neither. They are both equally married. Each has walked down the aisle of a church, exchanged rings, and then committed themselves before God and the assembled congregation to love each other till death parts them. They are both married completely. Now, which couple's love is deeper? I think the argument could easily be made, that while both couples are equally and completely married, there is a depth to the older couple's marriage that has not had time to be developed in the younger couple. The young couple's marriage is filled with new experiences, travel, and a wide range of heightened emotions. Their love is certainly sincere, but it has not yet seen the hard days. It has not endured the inevitable difficulties of marriage. It has not waded through days of monotony and boredom. For the older couple, the new has long since been gone. Their days are filled with the familiar. There is comfort in the sameness. They are simply content to be. Be together.

So it is with our relationship with God. When young, everything is new. Each experience feeds the next. Mountain tops are our lifeblood. Valleys are not easily handled. As we mature, experiences are appreciated, but not expected. And finally, it is simply enough to be His.