Still the night

It has been called the most beloved Christmas Carol of all time - Silent Night

My personal favorite version is by Katy Bowser from the 2001 CD Your King Has Come

You can listen to it here

But the familiar melody we recognize today as “Silent Night” or “Stille Nacht” is not quite the same one that Franz Gruber composed, and although the song was not truly “lost” or “forgotten”—as legend would have it—the world-famous carol did take many years to become as well known and as ubiquitous as it is today. In the intervening years Joseph Mohr is known to have written a “Stille Nacht” arrangement around 1820, and new hand-written arrangements by Franz Gruber appeared before his death—one for a full orchestra in 1845, and another for organ in 1855. By 1900 “Stille Nacht” had made its way around the entire globe.

The following is the complete German text from an authentic version of Franz Gruber's known as Autograph VII and written around 1860.

Most English versions of "Silent Night!" include just three verses, which correspond to a translation from the original text of verses 1, 6 and 2, in that order.

 It is a direct translation into English. The intent here is not to make translated lyrics which fit the melody, but rather to provide the reader with a better understanding of the original German text.

1. Silent night! Holy night! All are sleeping, alone and awake
Only the intimate holy pair, Lovely boy with curly hair,
Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace!


2. Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, O how he laughs
Love from your divine mouth, Then it hits us - the hour of salvation.
Jesus at your birth! Jesus at your birth!

3. Silent night! Holy night! Which brought salvation to the world,
From Heaven's golden heights, Mercy's abundance was made visible to us:
Jesus in human form, Jesus in human form.

4. Silent night! Holy night! Where on this day all power
of fatherly love poured forth And like a brother lovingly embraced
Jesus the peoples of the world, Jesus the peoples of the world.

5. Silent night! Holy night! Already long ago planned for us,
When the Lord frees from wrath Since the beginning of ancient times
A salvation promised for the whole world. A salvation promised for the whole world.

6. Silent night! Holy night! To shepherds it was first made known
By the angel, Alleluia; Sounding forth loudly far and near:
Jesus the Savior is here! Jesus the Savior is here

NY Times warns of catastrophic climate change

- Canada could be “wiped out”

- lower crop yields could mean “billions will die.”

Cataclysm to come in 1895!

"Journalists have warned of climate change for 100 years, but can’t decide weather we face an ice age or warming..."
check out this article:

Fire and Ice

The ice age is coming, the sun’s zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
’Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
-- The Clash
“London Calling,”

That's My King!

Our church played a video last week (which you can view atthe bottom of this post) with part of the audio from S.M. Lockridge's wonderul message called "My King". Here's the entire message.
You can listen to the audio here

My King was born King.
The Bible says He's a Seven Way King.
He's the King of the Jews - that's a racial King.
He's the King of Israel - that's a National King.
He's the King of righteousness.
He's the King of the ages.
He's the King of Heaven.
He's the King of glory.
He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that's my King.

Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him?
Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King?

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament show His handiwork.

My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

Well, well, He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.
That's my King.

He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's saviour.
He's the centrepiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He's honest.
He's unique.
He's unparalleled.
He's unprecedented.
He's supreme.
He's pre-eminent.

Well, He's the grandest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He's the supreme problem in high criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He's the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion.
That's my King.

He's the miracle of the age.
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

Well, He's the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He's strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

Do you know Him?

Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.
He's the master of the mighty.
He's the captain of the conquerors.
He's the head of the heroes.
He's the leader of the legislatures.
He's the overseer of the overcomers.
He's the governor of governors.
He's the prince of princes.
He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.

That's my King. Yeah. Yeah.
That's my King. My King, yeah.

His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable. He's indescribable.

Yes. He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.
I'm coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind.
You can't get Him off of your hands.
You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilot couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.
That's my King. Yeah.

He always has been and He always will be.
I'm talking about He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor.
There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him.
You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign.
That's my King! That's my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it's God's power.
Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.
Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the forevers, then,

Amen.


Here's the video we showed:

radio killed the... (or Marconi plays the mamba)

OK - I couldn’t exactly come up with a catchy finish that would mirror the Buggles reference without overstating my point.

Worship songs on the radio. Good, bad or ugly?

Yes. Yes. And yes.

I’m talking about recognizable corporate type worship songs that one would find in any church doing modern music in America / the UK / Australia.

Radio is great. Christian radio stations can be great. One of our local stations does great ministry… well beyond the DJ-ing.

The Good:
Any medium that gets the Church singing the praises of God with Scripturally-sound, engaging, Christ exalting, God glorifying music is a good thing. The truths of the Word and the nature of God’s character on the minds and in the mouths of the people of God is a good thing.

AND we now get to join the Church across the globe in singing songs with one voice.
Worldwide.
For whatever reason my heart seems to resonate powerfully with songwriters from the UK (Redman, Hughes, Beeching, James, Townend, Mark, Cantelon, Layzell & others). 20 years ago, we really wouldn’t be hearing their songs like we do today.

The Bad:
The time constraints – One of the things I really like about the ‘traditional’ hymns is the sense of story conveyed. Now, even I will admit that singing through all 17 (original) verses of “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” on a Sunday morning would get old, but I wonder if content is getting squeezed for the sake of time. So the song will get air time.

Maybe it’s because as a songwriter I know that any song beyond 3 and a half minutes has slim chance of ever being heard on the radio, and therefore being used by the Church at large for worship. (this whole discussion recognizes God’s sovereignty, which does not depend on us, and can overcome anything)

Steve Fee recently articulated this well at 7|22 held at Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. I had been mulling over this for some time, when I happened to catch an online video about songwriting and I thought, “good. I’m not the only one thinking this.”

Fee went on to talk about the song of praise that the Israelites sang as they came through the Red Sea. Check it out in Exodus 15:1-18. It’s long. Really long. And who knows how long it took to write, rehearse…. It just says, “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD” I’m sure it was Spirit-led in all facets, but that kind of song wouldn’t fly on the radio. It makes “Bohemian Rhapsody” look like “I Wanna Hold your Hand”. And can you imagine singing, “By the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up.” (v. 8) in church on Sunday? Have you EVER sang a song about God’s nostrils?

The Ugly:
With the proliferation of Christian Radio, streaming media and digital downloads, everyone from Matt Redman to Uncle Jim-Bob’s Hillbilly Praise Tabernacle has gained a wider audience.

Sometimes a great musical ‘hook’ overshadows lyrical weakness. (To be fair, this can be true of older songs as well - like “In the Garden”)

Sometimes a song is 90% great and then someone tried to fit in a rhyming word that just made the line trite or cliché, or lame, or just … off.

I love the melody, feel and much of the lyrical content of the song “Above All” – but the chorus – right at the summit – fails:

“Crucified, laid behind a stone
Condemned to die, rejected and alone
Like a rose, trampled on the ground
You took the fall, and thought of me above all.”

My apologies to Mr. Leblanc... but the glory of the Father was on Christ’s mind above all. Yes, I personally, and the world’s inhabitants individually were on His mind, but it was the Father’s glory that relentlessly motivated Him. It’s a great song, but just that phrase stops it for me.

Or the song “Trading My Sorrows” by Darrell Evans. Again, Darrell has done a great service to the Body through his writing and music, but this song could have done so much more. The bridge is great, the verses could have done a better job explaining that we don’t just “choose joy”, we don’t just trade heartache for happy – God shepherds us through the valley, he shapes and corrects and molds us.

But the chorus?

Yes, Lord.
Yes, Lord.
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord.
Yes, Lord.
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord.
Yes, Lord.
Yes, yes, Lord. Amen.

It about as meaningful as the chorus to Geoff Moore’s “Home Run”:
Whoa – oh – oh – oh!
Whoa – oh – oh – oh!
Whoa – oh – oh ! Home run!

Now, these guys must be doin’ something right? Right?

After all, they’re on the radio.

I think with the context tweaked, this song makes a good point.

heresy

If anyone gives you a free copy of this book Ten Commandments Twice Removed you should throw it away or destroy it.

Its deceptions are wrecking havoc within orthodox and specifically Evangelical Christianity.

why is so awful?

While it may seem subtly convincing, it denies core tenants of historic, orthodox Christianity [see Paul's arguments all throughout the book of Galatians] AND it is written and distributed by a member of a cult whose founder was a false prophetess [whose teachings included that non-Caucasian people are the result of relations between man and animals!]

for more on this cult's odd history and beliefs, check out the video on this page:
video

and see this page for their errors regarding Sunday and the Sabbath:
Sabbath or Sunday

Beyond this, it's author (who claims that the 10 commandments are a requirement for salvation) has broken them recently.
He divorced his wife (with no evidence of Biblical grounds) and has remarried - which according to his theology - is adultery.

oediv htametum drawkcab

just another reason i love this band:

TOO MUCH KICK!

I cannot stop laughing... I love this Ad:


http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/ad_of_the_day/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003648121#

Behold the Lamb Tour Coming to Wausau!

Behind the Scenes of "Behold the Lamb"

VA!N ?!

I've been thinking a lot recently about what it means in Exodus 20:7 when it reads ""You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain."

Often I find the Amplified Bible of great help, since it expounds on some of the original Hebrew text's meanings. It reads...

"You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." [AMP] (emphases mine)

You'll notice in many translations that "the LORD" is in all caps. Why?

If you check out the intrduction and/or translators notes you'll see that this LORD stands for the precious self-revealed Name of the Living and True God; the Name He declared to Moses at Mt. Horeb [Exodus 3:14] - YHWH. Scholars pronounce it either "Yah-weh" or "Je-ho-vah", it's proper rendering having been lost to time and the desire of Jewish scribes that no one ever misuse 'The Name' (they dropped the vowels out for this purpose, hence the disagreement over its pronunciation).

It means 'I AM THAT I AM'. It is His proper Name.

Clearly the EX 20 passage reads that no one should misuse or take the proper name of the Judeo-Christian God - "YHWH" - in vain.

'You shall not take the name of the YHWH (who is) your God in vain..."

Why does this matter?

I've been reading the Old Testament with fresh eyes, mentally reading "Yahweh" when I encounter "LORD". It has really been helpful, for every time a prophet or judge or king or God Himself uses it , it is a reminder that He is no ambiguous god. He was and is not to be confused with pagan 'gods' like Molech, Ashtoreth, Dagon or Baal. Rather, He is the specific god of Israel, the delivering god, the all-knowing, all-present, all-mighty god - the one and only, Triune, capital "G", God - the Ancient of Days. Try this reading approach for a week in the Old Testament and see what it does for you.

I've been wondering recently, is the phrase "Oh, my god" which is so prevalent in our culture a violation of the command of God? If a commited pagan or wiccan or Buddhist uses this phrase, they are clearly not referring to YHWH, since He is not their 'god'. Does an atheist or agnostic break the command of God by using this phrase?

Clearly it is not a helpful phrase in any context as it diminishes the importance and reverence of deity in general.

And since the Christian professes to know and walk with God, it would not be a wise use of breath.
[READ: no Christian should utter this phrase]

But do we label the OMG phrase vanity and a breaking of YHWH's command, yet allow worse infractions to pass with a smile and/or a simple shake of the head or roll of the eyes?

God has also revealed Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. God in the flesh. Jesus Himself was accused of blasphemy by applying The Name to Himself (John 8:48-59). Certainly the misuse of His Name - Jesus - as a curse (which by the way occurs without rival worldwide... no one uses 'Allah' or 'Mohammed' or 'Buddah' as an exclamation of disgust)... certainly Jesus' name in the context of a curse is a violation of Exodus 20.

But have we Christians considered our Messiah so informaly that we break the command and label it 'evangelism'?

I pulled into our church's parking lot today and saw the following bumper sticker beneath and Icthus fish symbol...
"Jesus is coming back - look busy"

Are you kidding me???

I was disgusted. Not only do I think it a violation of EX 20:7 (especially in light of the AMP translation), but a complete distortion of the Gospel. Do we really mean to convey that busyness equals faith? or that He is unaware of our activity until He comes back??

Or how about this clever saying imprinted on a cheap plastic children's bank I saw years ago while working at a local Christian bookstore...
"Jesus Saves"

(>_<)

I think it was modern day prophet and songwriter Keith Green who rightly labeled this as 'Jesus Junk'... items that used our dear Christ's name to sell merchandise, which unintentionally shows the world that we'll buy junk just because somehow it is made "Christian" by printing 'Jesus' on it.

Is calling this stuff 'junk' more offensive than the its ability to sell based on 5 letters emblazoned on it.

It shows them He is under our control; that He is not a God worthy of our drop-jawed awe and revernce. He has become a commodity; his Name bandied about to make a buck.

(As a related aside: what's this with companies now making suckers and chocolates in the shape of a cross to sell at Easter rather than the 'secular' bunnies? Do we consume other devices of torture and execution? Can the place of our redemption at the bloody, brutal death of our savior now be eaten in such a cavalier manner?)

Maybe the Church should stop gasping at an unbeliever using the phrase "oh, my (ambiguous) god" and renew our reverence for the Name at which every knee will one day bow - Jesus, the second person in the Godhead of YHWH

the fool ?

We saw him at the gate and I mused, “I bet he’s an Orthodox Jew.”

His dark suit, wide brimmed hat, and full beard seemed a dead give away, but I thought, well, maybe not.

I overheard parts of his Hebrew conversation on his cell phone as he was walking down the center aisle of the airplane. Meshiach… one word I knew from the little Hebrew I had acquired.

Messiah.

My thoughts began to turn in my head, “Perhaps he’s a Messianic Christian? Maybe he’s discussing a hoped for coming Messiah?” There was no way to be certain.

He took his seat.. next to me on my left, still in the middle of his phone coversation.

I wondered if God had seated this man next to me so I could share something with him.

I turned to my wife. “Just another hour or so and we’ll be with the kids again.”

“Good. I miss them.”

“Uh… Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain… it’s looks like the bad weather in Chicago is going to keep us on the ground for a while. Control is telling us we need to wait for 45 minutes before we can leave. It may be longer.”

Ugh. Here we were, so close to home and yet we would have to wait. I grabbed the airline SkyMall magazine in front of me and started flipping through the pages of overpriced, uber high-tech gadgets honestly wondering if anyone needed a water cooling, self-circulating dog water dish. (or stairs for their dog to get up on the couch for that matter!)

My neighbor was discussing the history of the traditions of the Feast of Booths on his cell phone.

I must have gotten lost in the intricacies of the video goggles for sale (with the ability to connect to your DVD player/iPod/PSP/ETC and project an image which fools your brain into thinking you’re watching a 52” screen in front of you – you can see why I got lost) when I noticed motion out of the corner of my eye.

My neighbor was standing.
And slightly swaying and bowing with a small book in his hands.

It was then that I also noticed the tassels of his prayer shawl.

I assume he was facing Jerusalem.

It was at that moment that God reminded me of a few things:

- the man beside me was not making a show of his prayer life. Though it was obvious what he was doing, there was no hint that he was doing this to be noticed. He was simply trying to honor God through his devotion. He did not loudly pray so that all heads would turn in his direction. He did not call attention to himself in his prayer; his words were barley a whisper

- when our first and foremost devotion is to Christ, we are going to look foolish to the world, but if He is Who we believe Him to be (more so Who He claims Himself to be) who should we fear? Because He is Who He is, the Saving, Living, Redeeming God, my allegiance is to Him over any human thought of my foolishness. Indeed the Scriptures tell us that, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong…” I Cor. 1:25-27 (ESV)

I am so thankful he was there. Whether or not He knows that Jesus (Yeshua) is the promised Messiah (Meshiach), the Lord used him, nonetheless, to speak to me.

BROKeN

A few weeks ago, my son broke his leg in a biking accident. [They say you shouldn’t let a 7 yr. old have his own Harley, but I thought the warnings overstated]

Hearing the news at a public phone in Paris, there was nothing my wife or I could do apart from reassure him that we would be home as soon as we could and try to encourage him as best we could.

Back home, we got him to an orthopedic surgeon who cast his leg from toes to hip, and told him to come back in two weeks for a more mobile, walking cast.

His cast had become most often an impediment and a frustration. But at just the right time, around just the right people, it became somewhat a source of pride to show off, have admired and signed.

When we told him on Sunday that he needed to get ready for church, he began to complain and even cry. “Why?” we thought. Surely he would want to see his friends, and have them see his cast.

It turns out, his cast was a source of embarrassment. Whether from the circumstances surrounding it, or his limited mobility, it was an embarrassment. He didn’t want anyone to see his broken condition.

At that moment I wondered about those with spiritual ailments. Those who know they are broken on the inside; those who have not yet turned to Christ for cleansing, and perhaps even those who have.

These broken places, at times and in the right company may be sources of pride. But when it comes to stepping foot inside the doors of a church, how many are so embarrassed that others will see their broken-ness that they don’t dare go.

“They’ll laugh at me.”

“They’ll stare.”

“They know.”

How do we, the Church, demonstrate the healing that can be found, regardless of the broken-ness that exists? How do we effectively let it be known that in accordance with God’s desires for our holiness, our worship gatherings are places to be healed, bound up, reset and made stronger in Christ by His Word, His Spirit and His people?

Maybe in the constant admission – better said – corporate confession that we are all broken, and in need of a Healer. Maybe in the appropriate telling of the depths of our broken-ness before we met our Healer. I wonder how often God’s glory is short-changed when we limit our pre-Christ stories to “I wasn’t living the way I should and now because of Jesus, I am.” Or even – “I was a sinner and now I’m going to heaven.”

The broken need to know that Christ has healed the lust-filled from porn, the addicted from their addictions, the gossip from slander, the covetous from their idols and the proud from themselves.

When the broken see that Christ has healed their form of broken-ness; and when they see it through a gracious people who are truly changed perhaps they will disregard the embarrassment of their crutches and come to Him.

In dependence Day

"Trust - who do ya?"
Apart from a referrence to an obscure song from the original Batman "soundtrack" by Prince (circa 1989), this question has great merit.

I've been challenged by a great number of "what if...." questions lately: The machinations of 9/11 & 7/7 (UK), our tax system, wars and rumors of wars... and on. With some of these, the data just doesn't add up. Too many coincidences. Too much simply does not fit with explanations given. Deceit abounds - on one side or the other.

Mind you, while I'm still in the investigation stage of many these hypotheses credibility (and lack thereof), the question remains - who do you trust? and likewise - where is your trust?

I recently decided I will no longer affiliate with a political party. For in that affiliation is the subtle lure of trust - trust that some person who wears a certain label can help solve my concerns, or my concerns for my country.

I don't know those individuals apart from TV sound bites and published "platform" statements. I do not experience life with any of them to the degree that I can say I trust their motives, or even their stated beliefs.

I need to remain in dependence of God.

I will only trust the One who alone knows the end from the beginning.

I will only trust the One who alone has the power to cause change.

I will rejoice only in that One.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song."
Psalm 28:7 NIV

"He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast,
trusting in the LORD." Psalm 112:7

with that said, enjoy this slice of Irony-Americana:

Grace Unmeasured

I was deeply disturbed by something I witnessed at a church this past Sunday - Father's Day:

We arrive at the church early to acquiant ourselves with the nursery system and more importantly to prepare our hearts to worship.

It is our first visit to this particular church and we are making our way across the parking lot to the building, when I see a man interacting with what appears to be his son, who is roughly 12 or 13.

Angry words from the father - unheard by us

Red-faced father, his veins straining against the flesh of his neck

A finger points in the son's face

He grabs the boy by the front of his shirt and hurls him into an outdoor pillar.

The boy's tears spring immediately upon impact.

More angry words - we're still too far away - the door closes in the boy's face, now red with embarrassment and shame. I am sure the door would have slammed were it not for the hydraulic mechanism that prevents church doors from slamming; from hurting children.

Closer to the building now, it is obvious the man (and his son) are Greeters for this morning's service.

the man smiles and shakes hands of those entering.

Had we not been believers, or with our friends for that matter, we would have done a 180 and left.

Father's Day.

I struggle with what to do. Do I say something? to the father? to the son? unsettled.

During the service we worship in song, the same man, his wife, and their son are two rows directly in front of us.

He raises his hands while singing Grace Unmeasured, "grace, grace grace that clothes me with power to do what is right."

I have a hard time singing - and not just because this song in unfamiliar to me.

Is it any wonder the unchurched avoid our worship gatherings, our buildings, even our 'Savior'?

We are constantly on display for the world to see what His grace can do in a life.

I am torn between seeing this disconnect; this distortion, and knowing we are all sinners in need of God's grace.

And yet as disturbed as I am over the whole encounter, the LORD brings this messsage through it - straight into my soul:

In less public, and in less physical ways I have badly interacted with my children.

Oh God, grant me the strength to cherish them as gifts and treasures. Firm and just when needed, but gracious and patient enough to never shame, belittle, mock or abuse them.

"Careful Hands" by Sleeping At Last

food for thought

a growing conviction, a Rose by another name is perhaps not a rose:
Why do we call the resurrection of the Christ "Easter" if Easter is derived from "Eoster"?

some pages to chew on (*note - these links do not say I wholeheartedly agree or endorse what is contained on these sites)

http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/JO-Eo.html

(NEW 03-20) http://www.shalom-peace.com/easter.html

http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/sunnysweb/ostar.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eostre

or Google it yourself.

I think I'll stick with "Resurrection Sunday"

the day the music died

the total sellout of music is now complete.

I just saw a commerical for Wendy's new spicy-blah-blah chicken and the soundtrack was...
"Blister in the Sun"

the violent femmes

* cough* sellout *cough* sellout *cough*

one of the 80's penultimate punk songs; rebellion against the music industry and the establishment -

is now selling chicken

- a moment please to collect my composure....

Forgiving God

Have you ever heard someone ask the question.. “Have you forgiven God yet?”
or have you asked it?
Has it been asked of you?

I don’t know where this idea comes from, but I think it is ludicrous.

I think it’s meant to help ease grief in pain, but it is so off the mark.

I’m sure what is meant is resolving the feelings of being betrayed by God. "If He didn’t specifically will this event, He sure allowed it."

Why would He let me be hurt like this? Why is He allowing this?

During the midst of an agonizing trial recently, I was outside shoveling out our driveway from the latest storm, and this question started playing in my head.

“Have you forgiven God yet?”

Forgive God?

To forgive God would mean that He had wronged me – that He had sinned; that His involvement (or non-involvement) was an affront to my plan, to my will.

Taken to its logical end, to be able to forgive God assumes that I am deity - or at the very least a co-equal.

I am obviously not.

This idea of ‘forgiving God’ is preposterous.

Maybe I should work on forgiving Adam. After all it was his choice, his passivity that eventually led the world to the state it is in today:

Broken. Disappointing. Heart wrenching.

To be tame - catastrophically messed up.

Why Adam, why? Just the one rule – how hard could that be?

My wife and I were discussing this idea – forgiving Adam – when she remarked that were we in Adam’s place in the garden, we would have failed as well. We would have made the wrong choice. We would have rebelled.

She’s right.

But here’s the thing: both Adam and I are created. We can forgive one another as co-equal created sinners. I can extend forgiveness to an equal.

God needs never ask or seek my forgiveness. And I should never presume that I can forgive Him who is the Creator.

He is the potter – we are the clay. (Isa. 64:8)

He gives and takes away – and blessed be His Name (Job 1:21)

He is the One who brings comfort (Ps. 46) and Who will bring about a new heavens and new earth (Isa. 65:17, Rev. 21:1-4)

And He is the Risen One Who has bought me with His blood, so that I can experience eternal life with Him in that new place without sorrow, grief, heartache or pain.

So what do I do with the “now”?

The most difficult thing – trust.

Trust that He can and will be glorified in this… this…

Somehow He knows all of this is for my good (Rom. 8:28) and it is all woven into His plan.

And this is so hard to hear in the midst of the storm. Because it sounds cliché.

But it’s truth.

And what I need most for my soul is truth. To be reminded of His faithfulness; His promises.

Not to ‘forgive’ Him.

The Dark Love of God

...

Is God’s love ever dark?

Is it ever slightly bitter?

Maybe.

Maybe you think I’m beginning to wander down heretical or pagan roads. I assure you I am not.

Ever have one of those days where you just need a little glimpse of God’s love? Not the writing-on-the-wall, epiphany, burning bush kind of sign, but your heart just says, “God, I just need something little to remind me of you love”?

Maybe it hasn’t even coalesced into that specific of a prayer, but it’s going on in your heart anyway.

I experienced the Dark Love of God the other day in a way that caused me to glory in Him in my heart in a way I was not totally anticipating.

Now when I say the Dark Love of God, perhaps your mind goes to scenes from Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”. The dark days of the cross: when God’s love toward rebellious humanity was put on full display in the humiliating, torturous, violent death of Jesus. The dark oppression of our sins on the sinless One? Or perhaps the bitter gall at the cross? No.

I have come to greatly respect the teachings and writings of John Piper, who in his book, Desiring God--Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, writes: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (pg. 50)

I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say “most glorified”… but I do think that God receives glory when we enjoy His good gifts in a way that acknowledges that those gifts have come from His hand; gifts that express His love towards all of humanity just because of His nature.

The Dark Love of God I experienced was a simple, yet delightful Café Americano.

Those who know me well know I enjoy a good cup of coffee – I grind my own beans, tamp them, and am in what seems to be a never-ending quest to produce the finest cappuccino or Americano I can from home.

I enjoy coffee. Thoroughly.

I frequent our local Starbucks every so often and am usually pleased with the java I receive.

But Monday, as I pulled out of the drive through and took my first sip I was immediately drawn to worship God.

Over coffee?

Yes.

Here it was – the unmerited love of God in a paper cup. The same love that causes God to send rain on the fields of both the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt. 5:44-46)
For certain it was not the caffeine, as it hadn't even had a chance to affect my system yet.

I was glad I had tipped my barista well, but took infinitely more delight in the God Who has not only has rescued me from my sin, but Who also delights to give His children good gifts when they least expect it.

My heart was drawn to praise and thanks for this minute gesture from the transcendent God. By His Word He is sustaining the entire universe – yet at that moment, because of His mercy, grace and Father-heart I knew His intimate love; His agape-love in a way I could best experience it. A way that reminded me that He was speaking to me specifically; that He knows me to the core.

I certainly didn’t pull up to the window with the expectation that I would experience the love of God.

But there it was - in all its surprising, murky, robust glory – the Dark Love of God.

Fatherhood

A really cool thought hit me about fatherhood a couple days ago, spurred on by a U2 song.

Before I get to it, I have learned that fatherhood is an amazing gift from God. He uses it to hold a mirror to the condition of the soul (over and over and over in my case it seems) to show areas for growth and to remind us of the joy He feels as our heavenly Father.

Before I got married, I thought I was a pretty well-adjusted guy who was fairly courteous.

Then, through marriage, God showed me how selfish I was. About three years later when our first child was born, God showed me I had more work to do on the selfishness area. I’m still learning from both marriage and fatherhood to die to self. And in all honesty – not always doing the best at it.

Here’s the thing that hit me the other day: as we grow older, most of us begin to ‘see’ our parents in the way we act (guys in particular, but I think women deal with this as well).

Bono has often said that the song “Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own” was written for his father who had recently passed away. The chorus includes these words:

“And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone”

I’m finding this to be so true.

I’m finding that I sometimes react to situations like I observed my parents did. I’ll catch myself and think, “whoa, that sounded just like my dad.”

Other times it’s so subtle that it literally gives me shivers.

I’ll be playing with my kids in the living room and catch my reflection in our mirror and my expression, or the way I smile will instantly remind me of my dad. Something about how my lips curve; the way my chin looks…

And so, as I was humming along to Bono, it struck me the other day:
“I want to look more like my heavenly Father as I get older.”

I want to react to situations like my heavenly Dad does – with His heart. To smile as He does over the things that bring Him joy. To be upset at the injustices that break His heart.

To be more Christ-like.

“... Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Jesus gave them this answer: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.’” (John 516-20a)

“And it's you when I look in the mirror…”

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

the end of faith

Faith
“– noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing”

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (HEB. 11:1 ESV)

I’ve been thinking a lot about faith recently. What is it? Does faith end?

The verse above is one quickly memorized by new followers of Jesus, and comes to roll off the tongue quite easily. In fact, in my Bio 100 course in college, the first question asked by my Prof was, “What is the difference between science and religion?” A well intentioned Christ-follower in the room readily quoted Hebrews 11:1, which in all honesty, seemed really out of context at the time. Our Prof had a palpable disdain for people of faith, and would often lampoon those who took the Bible seriously – some of us specifically.

The thing I’ve been mulling over recently is - what is the difference between religion and faith? Sure, I know that religion is about us trying to earn our way to God. That’s not what I mean. What I mean is, when have we unwittingly allowed our faith to slide into becoming religion? Do we know all the right phrases and clichés, so that our ‘faith’ has become less of a dependent walk and more about being able to pass a test?

Perhaps it’s because I’ve been in the ancient texts of Genesis and Job recently and watched from eons away the struggles of the Patriarchs and Job.

What has been swirling in my head is this: can faith really be called ‘faith’ if it remains untested? Do I really have faith that a chair will support my weight if I never sit down in it? Faith is, after all, about trust.

Abraham trusted in God when all else seemed to say, “you’re just hearing voices, bloke”
Trust that it really was God calling Him out of Ur
That it was God telling him his descendents would outnumber the sand on the seashore
That God would make of him a great nation
That he would conceive a child, even in his old age, and when they had thought Sarah to be barren.

And yeah, Abraham tried to make some of these things happen in his own power, or using his own rationales (Hagar), but his example is really helpful for me. Now, I’ve never audibly heard the voice of God mind you, yet Abraham had to trust God. Even had to trust for some things that he would never see this side of heaven.

A friend of mine created an awesome photo of himself doing a ‘trust fall’ into a grave. It’s such a great picture of final faith.

But I wonder how I would try to capture daily faith in an artistic photo?

It’s like this faith is this daily, lifelong, dependent, pursuit of the unseen based upon compelling evidence. That evidence is another dozen or so posts, so it can wait.

To say that we’re trusting in God for eternal life, but not trusting Him in daily life – is that genuine faith? If we insulate ourselves from pain and trial are we trying to circumvent the role of faith in our lives? And beyond faith, is it possible that God allows some struggle in our lives for just that purpose: to test and refine our faith.

What I’m getting at is this: do I really have faith, if that faith is never being challenged, if it is never tested, if it never comes to a place of external or internal opposition? In America, most of us don’t rely day-to-day on the providence of God to make it through each day. If I am comfortable in my 4 bedroom, 2 car garage home, with my 2 kids and all my bills abundantly met… if I have every genuine need met and most of my wants covered… where is faith? Or do my beliefs fall more into a ‘religion’ category? Hasn’t it become philosophy and not faith? Where is the trust fall in that? Where do I need to allow the muscle, if you will, of faith to be exercised?

Perhaps grief and heartache are the Bowflex of faith? And yeah – that sucker is costly.

And do I really want the results? Or do I just like thinking about them…

To shift gears… does faith end?

I think so. I mean, Romans 8 says, “Hope that is seen is no hope at all”. So I live in faith, or trust, or hope to one day see Christ face to face because of his merits on my behalf, then naturally when it comes to pass then it is no longer hope, or trust, or faith.

And 1 Corinthians 13 (the most oft quoted passage at weddings) tells us that “where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears...
…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
So where there is no need for something (prophecy, tongues, special knowledge) it ceases. Interesting then that even hope and faith will one day come to an end. Yet even then, love will remain.
A great song that continues this ‘faith’ dialogue is Derek Webb’s “New Law” from his Mockingbird CD (or you can hear it at his site: here)

or just watch it:



‘til next time…

musings, mutterings, melody, melodrama

postings of a random nature about life, faith, music, American cultural dynamics and whatever else is cruising the cranium at the moment. feel free to dialogue with me, or at me