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Archives For November 30, 1999

Approachable Royalty

April 7, 2009 — 1 Comment

The TouchLast week, much was made about First Lady Michelle Obama’s “breach of protocol” when she touched Queen Elizabeth II.  Without going in to the varying opinions of the actual event (there are those who say “eh, it’s no big deal” and some who are disparaging Mrs. Obama), it actually caused me to think about another Royal who is perfectly fine with being approached by anyone…without commanding genuflection:

Jesus Christ – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

His Coronation:

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11

Our Invitation:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. -Ephesians 3:12

Especially with this week being what is commonly called Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday) and  Easter next Sunday, I am humbled and rejoice in the fact that through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, you and I (as followers of Christ) have free and unlimited access at anytime and any place of our choosing to the Sovereign, Almighty, and Glorious God of the universe!

He is the God who came close (John 3:16-17, Philippians 2:6-11)…and longs for closeness with us (through a personal relationship…not just empty, ritualistic religion).  May we savor and cherish that approachability this week as we remember the events that purposely took place so long ago.

Hallelujah!

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Jesus loves us. Simply amazing.

April 4, 2009 — 1 Comment

jesus-hearts-u1Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong

Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so

Many of us learned that song when we were young. We know God loves us, but do we KNOW it…grasp its deep and intense truth?

God loves us with a perfect and profound love that is honestly hard for us to fully comprehend. We can read about it, watch it in a movie about His life, but to fully understand is difficult – we are humans…He is God. We really must simply accept His love for what it is – a gift undeserved, immeasurable, and quite simply amazing.

Just think of it – the creator of the entire universe LOVES YOU AND ME! HE LOVES US!

As we celebrate Holy Week and ultimately Easter, I pray we each personalize it:

For God so loved [insert your name here] that he gave His one and only Son, that if [insert your name here] believes in Him he shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn [insert your name here], but to save [insert your name here] through Him. – John 3:16-17

Again: The creator of the entire universe LOVES YOU AND ME! HE LOVES US!

I love the way the Andrew Peterson song below says that God loves me as I am, as I was, and as I will be – really meaning that God’s love for us always existed and will never end. No matter how distorted my view of His love is (based on my limited, human knowledge and understanding of love), the fact is that God’s love is so much more deeper and stronger than I can even come close to comprehending. Its perfect love. Something that we really cannot give and truly can only receive from the One who is perfect: Christ.

Meditate on these lyrics, reflect on how much God loves you, and really personalize this coming week – from Palm Sunday, through each day, to Good Friday, and ultimately to Easter Sunday. Everything Christ went through was out of love for you and for me. Simply amazing.

x
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Earth Hour? Hey, God Doesn’t Want Us to be GREEN!

April 3, 2009 — 1 Comment

bluetreegodofthiscitySo, March 28th at 8:30 PM was “Earth Hour” around the world.  It was an event whose purpose was to urge world leaders to take action to fight global warming.  A noble cause, but:

I firmly believe that God calls us to NOT be GREEN! Honest…it’s in the Bible – I have a verse!!

Now that I have your attention – let me explain!

A little over a year ago, I first heard Chris Tomlin’s God of This City and immediately liked it. As I tried to find the guitar music (it wasn’t out as it was so new), I discovered that the song was actually written and originally recorded by an Irish worship band called Bluetree. One internet search led to another and I found the music AND the Band’s CD. Ah – another little known artist to listen to…and enjoy!

Fast forward to March 2009 and Bluetree has re-released their CD – sporting a new cover and title (the original title was “Greater Things”).  Well, it’s back on my iPhone (proudly sporting my original cover and title!) and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Bluetree’s website is: http://www.givmusic.com/bluetree/ The story behind God of this City is pretty cool! [Their version of the song is quite different than Tomlin’s – I like both.]

“Dennis, alright already! Get to the part about God not wanting us to be GREEN!”

WELL…It’s all in a name…and a great song! An article I read on Bluetree said that their band name comes from their belief that we (as Christians) are called to stand out in the forest of people – just as a BLUE TREE would in a forest of GREEN trees.  Pretty creative and profound as band names go!

Thus, “God Doesn’t Want Us to be Green!” We are to stand out just as Christ did!

Check it out:

  • “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” – Jesus [John 17:16]
  • “Do not be conformed to this world…” – Paul [Romans 12:2]

I love how the Bluetree song below talks not only about BEING a “blue tree”, but also about having an IMPACT as a “blue tree”. We are to be gathered and scattered Christ Worshippers (probably another good post topic)!

BTW, Karen and I DO recycle!  I don’t recall what we were doing at 8:30 on the 28th, but hopefully it was earth-friendly!



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I wanna be “Coronary”

April 2, 2009 — 3 Comments

heartbeatCoronary.  Sounds scary, huh?  We typically associate that word with a heart attack or the like.  I repeat: scary.  I had my own experience this year (not a heart attack…just a funky heartbeat) – so I can confirm it is scary.

Coronary does pertain to the human heart…but for a minute, look beyond the physical organ in our chest.  I stumbled upon an older blog post by pastor and author John Piper (www.desiringgod.com) last week and it has stayed with me since…convicting me.

In it, he is calling his church to be “coronary, not adrenal.”  The post was related to National Sanctity of Human Life Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Piper’s challenge to his congregation to be “coronary” in the causes of racial harmony and human life.  You can read his blog entry for yourself (the link posted below), but there are some HUGE take-aways beyond the two main (and important) causes that are his focus.

He contrasts adrenal and coronary saying that adrenaline gets us through, but our heart keeps us going and really reflects our true intentions.  It’s like what Christ said to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our outward actions (adrenal) often betray our true heart actions (coronary.)

Like Piper, I often find myself glad for adrenaline.  Sadly though, I catch myself often operating in the adrenal mode in relation to situations, issues, or even just life.  Sure if my “rights” are violated or someone “messes” with my family or friends, I can get “coronary”, but for things that don’t impact my comfort or those I care about…  Let’s just say, I can really improve here.  Quite honestly, I don’t think I am alone here.  I think many of us can improve in this area related to life in general, social issues, our relationship with God…so many areas.

Piper also provides a great real life example of coronary living through his reference to William Wilberforce – a member of the House of Commons who fought against slavery in England in the late 1700s.  What a great quote and way of living: “[May God] enable me to have a single eye and a simple heart, desiring to please God, to do good to my fellow creatures and to testify my gratitude to my adorable Redeemer.”

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Foreverandever…

April 1, 2009 — 4 Comments

worship-pinkSo I was driving home this past Sunday night from a great time of fellowship, worship, and Communion our church had at Mission Springs Conference Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains…and guess what, I got stuck in traffic on Highway 17. What to do (ok, so I had to drive!) – rather, what to listen to? BTW, my wife had to stay home – she pulled a muscle in her back the day before 😦

Alone in the car (my choices are expanded…my wife and I appreciate different kinds of music at times), dark outside (so no one can really SEE me singing at the top of my lungs)…hmmm – sounds like a good time for a David Crowder Band session – their Remedy Club Tour CD to be specific. [Shout out to my fellow Crowderians Ben, Joel, and Pat]

There are so many favorites on this CD, but tonight I keyed on one song: Foreverandever Etc. Certainly the “moment of corporate whistling” and the shout out to the 80’s (A-Team, Bon Jovi, leg warmers?, and Super Mario) are great (and fun!); but the lyrics are profound (yes, David Crowder and “profound” in the same sentence!)

Profound because of two things: God’s love and the thought of “FOREVER”.

God’s Love
Not a long description here, just consider God’s love for YOU/me in light of the definitions from two key words in the song:

  • Incredible: So extraordinary as to seem impossible.
  • Indelible: That cannot be eliminated, forgotten, changed, or the like.

“Forever”
Having just left a great time of worshiping God with my church family, the thought of spending FOREVER with them “at [Christ’s] feet” was overwhelming. As much as we tried to express our love and adoration for God in that room, to think that one day we will sing before Jesus and see Him smile – well, what can I say. [Hey, I’m sure there will even be corporate whistling!]

Anyway…‘nuff said!

BTW, in my senior picture, my hair looked somewhat akin to David’s… No beard though!

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