Praise Adonai- Paul Wilbur

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Another of my favorite artists who sings Messianic praise. Paul Wilbur has been around for a while but a lot may not be familiar with him. Beautiful voices and amazing instrumentals all worshiping God.

Click on the other Paul Wilbur videos displayed at the end of the video showing for more songs. Full worship experience all in one place. Enjoy!!

THE GREAT I AM

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Came across this musician ,Jimmie Black, the other day and just have to say that his music ministers to my soul. Simple and worshipful

Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad – Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One

Close the Wound, Hide the Scar

I use a book in my Bible class called How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, the daughter of Francis Schaeffer. The book addresses some of the issues that we are now facing in our society due to postmodernism and the issues of moral relativism and subjective truth.

Susan quotes  Carly Simon from her song “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard it Should Be.” She says, “And yet they drink, they laugh; Close the wound, hide the scar…” The meaning is clear. We often go through life not facing our needs and our pains. We laugh our way through it all and pretend that everything is going to be ok. The problem with closing that wound is that we just might be closing it up with the infection still inside.

Susan shares that we live in a world that just doesn’t ask the tough questions of life anymore. I guess we just settle for the newest fad or philosophical idea. We have a tendency of calling things ‘progress’ when in all actuality it may be regression; especially spiritual regression. We let go of absolutes and settle for imitation. We are  more concerned with feelings, inclusiveness, and tolerance than we are with truth. In the end we end up with nothing to really cling to.

But this is where the problem lies. Mankind has a need, a longing that can only be met in one way. That way is in the restoration of a relationship long ago broken. We are a wounded people. The Fall damaged us- physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually. Mankind is yearning for restoration.

Sure we can follow all the religions and philosophies which point to man being the solution to all the problems we experience. That is the path of secularism and works based religion. We can self help ourselves to death. But any attempt to close the wound and hide the scar will only serve as  a masquerade.

John Stott wrote, “There is a hunger in the heart of man which none but God can satisfy, a vacuum, which only God can fill.” That is why we call Jesus the Great Physician. He heals the wounds of a fallen people. Not only does He close the wound, but He takes on the scars Himself.

So stop looking for a temporary fix, a bandage for a problem with only one solution. Man-made religions and philosophies can not deal with the problem.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5

Mars Hill Church | Special | 32 Hours: The Church In Haiti

Very informative video from Mark Driscoll and fellow pastors who spent 32 hours in Haiti following the earthquake. It will shake your soul.

Reflections on Roe v. Wade

Today is the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision which places the following parameters on abortion.

“The Court held that a woman may abort her pregnancy for any reason, up until the “point at which the fetus becomes ‘viable.”

You know, we have a tendency of throwing around our fancy words with their questionable inferences and forgetting what really matters. There is only one question that needs to be asked concerning the unborn. That question is simply: What is the unborn?

The Law of Biogenesis states that we produce after our own kind. Therefore, humans produce humans. The question then becomes can we kill a human at will as is done in the case of abortion. What is the unborn? The answer is the unborn is a human being. Once we answer that question, it changes the whole picture.

There is a wonderful acronym I use from  Scott Klussendorf, which is used to state the only differences between the unborn in the womb and a newborn outside of the womb. That acronym is S.L.E.D

S- Size= Does size determine value or humanity? The baby in the womb may be smaller in form but does that equate that it is not human?

L- Level of Development= Do diminished or lesser capabilities determine one’s humanity? What of the disabled or handicapped? Are they less human?

E- Environment= Does somehow being outside of the womb magically transform one into a human?What does location have to do with the issue?

D- Degree of Dependency= Is humanity determined by our dependency on something or someone else? What of those who are insulin dependent? What of those who have pacemakers or other life supportive equipment? Are they not still human even though they are dependent? The baby’s need of their mother for support does not make them not human.

Francis Schaeffer once said, “People are special and human life is sacred, whether or not we admit it…Every person is worth fighting for, regardless of whether he is young, or old, sick or well, child, or adult, born or unborn…”

Our world is changing at an alarming rate. If that change continues to lead us to the point of destroying our own, then how far will we have fallen as a society? Ideas and actions have consequences. That is what we must remember as a society.

Born in the Shadow of the Cross

It is hard to even begin to consider the true nature and extent of the Incarnation. So many other religions have a view of God which shows Him as transcendent to the point at which He can not be known to any degree. He is the Unknowable and Unapproachable One. There of course are those aspects of God which are beyond our comprehension. Even if He were to reveal those aspects of His nature to us, we would not be able to understand them to any degree. But the beauty of Christmas is that God did reveal Himself to us in a sacrificial act that no man can fully understand. The sacrifice started long before the cross.

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

My thoughts are on the Babe. The Babe who would one day pave the way with His own life so that I and all others who trust in His Name could stand before His glory.

Project- Nutcracker

Now this is the way I want to listen to the Nutcracker- Merry Christmas!

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Does the Grass Grow on Your Path?

“Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.”

Oh how easy it is to begin to think that we need not pray. We look at the ’small things’ in life and tell ourselves that we can handle it on our own. No need to pray over such small things. We forget that the ‘big things’ in life are composed of the ’smaller things’.

I saw an example of answered prayer yesterday. I have been concerned over finishing my project for my current D.Min class. I had to find a control group of representatives from a world religion such as Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. I was then to begin some form of apologetic or evangelistic  discourse or conversation with them. I decided to go with Islam as my group. I looked up the Islamic Center online and got the address and I set off to find the center.

I had done this preparation without even really consulting God. I figured this was a small thing. What did it matter what group I went with? I searched the address and kept circling around the area where the GPS on my phone told me it should be, There was nothing there.

I pulled into a food court located near where I was searching and went inside. I walked up to the counter to order a little something before I asked for directions. The man who rang me up tried to convince me to try one of the apple fritters they had for sale. I told him thank you but I was going to stick with the eclair. He rang me up and then turned back to me. He reached over to the fritters and said to wait. He wanted to give me the fritter. As he was walking over to the microwave to warm it up for me, I felt this strong push to pray. The man ringing me up was from India.I prayed asking God what He wanted me to do. The reply was immediate. ASK him. When the man returned, I asked if he was Hindu and he said yes. I then told him what my assignment was and asked if he would sit down with me sometime to discuss his religion with me. At that moment, another Hindu man walked up overhearing the discussion. They both said yes. By the way, the man’s giving me the free gift makes for a great opening about God’s free gift to us. I had offered to pay but he said no that it was on him. That I am sure was a God thing too.

I meet with them tomorrow. I have to admit, I haven’t felt God’s presence like that in a while. It is probably because the grass has been growing on my path. Yes, I pray but not with the intensity that I should or with the faith that I should.I trust in myself too much. I am what you call a major control freak.

You see, God had a plan for who He wanted me to talk with. He made that powerfully clear. I thank Him for yesterday’s reminder. I also think that my meeting time of tomorrow gives me little time to prepare to my liking. That is probably God’s plan too. He wants me to rely on Him to give me the words tomorrow. He knows that if I had a week to plan, I would attempt to do this mostly on my own with my own intellect and preparation. I think God has a big lesson waiting for me with this assignment. I am excited to WAIT and see what it is. That is the adventure in the Christian’s life. We have to let God lead and trust Him. That means we have to pray more and trust more….

The Silence Of God

The lyrics of this song struck me today. Silence is beautiful sometimes but when the silence is coming from God, it can be deafening. When we struggle to understand why things are they way they are, we wonder why is God silent.  We as the church need to be real about this issue. We question. We struggle. We sometimes even doubt. That is what helps us relate to others and builds a bridge of compassion and an opportunity to share Christ. When we come across as if we have it all figured out, we shut people off. They feel isolated as if they are the only ones struggling to understand. What the world needs to see are real Christians, who even in the silent times, know that God is near and He is at work. Jesus knows pain and silence. He experienced it. He felt it. He understands. He cares.

“And if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mob
Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they’ve got
When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross
Then what about the times when even followers get lost?
‘Cause we all get lost sometimes…”- Andrew Peterson

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“We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 The Message

Behold the Lamb of God

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This is by far the most beautiful worship song. Every time I listen to this song, I enter into worship. It grabs my heart like no other. My friend Matt introduced me to this artist and I am glad he did. This song speaks to the heart of the saving work that the Lord did for us on that cross. The most powerful act of love and sacrifice.