Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Quoteable Quotes
"Preaching is something dangerously public that emerges from something intensely private." N.T. Wright
"It will also mean that those who discover the living God in and through Jesus must be prepared to face up to the evil structures and powers that still dominate and control so much of God's world, and to challenge them in the name of Jesus and with the power of his victory on the cross." N. T. Wright
"It will also mean that those who discover the living God in and through Jesus must be prepared to face up to the evil structures and powers that still dominate and control so much of God's world, and to challenge them in the name of Jesus and with the power of his victory on the cross." N. T. Wright
ECHO Band
ECHO college worship band leading at FBC Statesboro this past Sunday night. So blessed to get to work with great students like these guys!
Echo Band from FBC Statesboro TV on Vimeo.
Echo Band from FBC Statesboro TV on Vimeo.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Where is God when life hurts?
Philip Yancey is one of my favorite writers. He tackles every situation and scenario with poise, authenticity and a Biblical worldview. I am using his Grace Notes as part of my devotional reading this year. I have read just about every book he has in print, but it is great to reread some of these statements again and be encouraged by the hope of Christ! Here is what today's selection said,
Where is God when it hurts? God is in us--not in the things that hurt--helping to transform bad into good. We can safely say that God can bring good out of evil; we cannot say that God brings about the evil in hopes of producing good.Where Is God When It Hurts? (108-109)
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I Asked the Lord
This incredible hymn by John Newton has been a source of strength and encouragement for me over the past 7-8 months as I watched my Dad struggle with cancer. I have often asked the Lord these questions that Newton is unafraid to ask. It is a reminder that the sovereign hand of God gently guides and leads us at times even in difficult days all for the purpose of bringing us to the point where we "seek thou all in" Him alone!
Defining Evangelical
http://rachelheldevans.com/evangelical-means-to-me
I would tend to agree with much of what Rachel Held Evans says here about what the label "evangelical" means and doesn't mean. While I identify with this label for myself, I don't broadcast that to people outside of evangelicalism because the larger world seems to have a misconception about evangelicals. They believe that we are all narrow minded, Republican voting, gay-bashing, CCM listening people drinking cafe mocha's (but not in Starbucks because they support gay marriage) with our John MacArthur Study Bible opened to Romans 9-11. That certainly doesn't characterize me...for the record I don't have a problem with CCM, Republicans (I am one), John MacArthur or Starbucks for that matter.
I would tend to agree with much of what Rachel Held Evans says here about what the label "evangelical" means and doesn't mean. While I identify with this label for myself, I don't broadcast that to people outside of evangelicalism because the larger world seems to have a misconception about evangelicals. They believe that we are all narrow minded, Republican voting, gay-bashing, CCM listening people drinking cafe mocha's (but not in Starbucks because they support gay marriage) with our John MacArthur Study Bible opened to Romans 9-11. That certainly doesn't characterize me...for the record I don't have a problem with CCM, Republicans (I am one), John MacArthur or Starbucks for that matter.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Grief
It's strange the way grief hits you in waves. For much of the last 4 months since my Dad passed I have been so busy with my family and ministry to think much about the reality of losing him. It has probably helped that it wasn't abnormal to go several weeks in between phone calls and several months in between visits. So the trip to Guntersville this weekend was more difficult than I thought it would be.
Raw emotions, raw emotions, and more raw emotions...
I had changed out some CDs in my car before we left so that I would have some that were in the car with us for the trip. One that I had in the changer when I got back was Springsteen's Greatest Hits. The song Badlands has stuck in my head in a different way today with these lines,
Raw emotions, raw emotions, and more raw emotions...
I had changed out some CDs in my car before we left so that I would have some that were in the car with us for the trip. One that I had in the changer when I got back was Springsteen's Greatest Hits. The song Badlands has stuck in my head in a different way today with these lines,
I believe in the love that you gave me
I believe in the faith that could save me
I believe in the hope and I pray that someday it may raise me above these badlands...If I had to express my thoughts on grief, suffering, and death it would be Badlands, a place of desperation, desolation, and in once sense hopelessness. As Christians of course, our hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, however that hope does NOT take away the feelings of pain and despair that accompany the loss of someone you love. But the lyrics are reminders that some day we will rise above these "badlands" and that the full power of the resurrection will be known to all of God's children who may mourn for tonight but trust that tomorrow will be a new day.
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