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Archives For November 30, 1999

The Gravity of Sin

March 30, 2010 — Leave a comment

This week, I’m re-reading / listening to John Piper’s “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die“.

This hit hard:

“Sin is dishonoring God by preferring other things over Him.  Sin is not small, because it is not against a small Sovereign.  The seriousness of an insult rises with the dignity of the one insulted.  The Creator of the universe is infinitely worthy of respect and admiration and loyalty.  Therefore, failure to love Him is not trivial—it is treason.  Since God is just, He does not sweep these crimes under the rug of the universe.

‘[God] loved us and sent his Son to be the [wrath-absorbing] propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)'”

-John Piper

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“He’s Control”

February 26, 2010 — 3 Comments

…or rather, “He is in control.”

My wife and I have been on a journey to adopt children for a while and are trusting that God will lead us to the exact ones He has providentially prepared for us (and us for them!). I’ll admit, the waiting, praying, hopeful phone calls and meetings, dashed hopes, etc. is tough. We both have grown personally and as a couple during this process – and for that we’re grateful…but that doesn’t make the journey any easier. We trust in God’s plan and look with expectation to what He has prepared.

At times, it’s hard to remember, as we search, inquire, pray, trust…, that He is actually in control.

…that He has always been in control.

One of my favorite passages that clearly demonstrates this is in John 19. Jesus has been arrested and, in the eyes of His accusers, close to defeat. As he stands before Pilate we read:
Continue Reading…

In Christianity, Life , , , , ,
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Listen Up, D! [v2.16.10]

February 16, 2010 — 1 Comment

[Paul, to the Corinthians]

“… Christ [sent me] to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

1 Corinthians1:17 (NIV)

[Holy Spirit, to Dennis]

Whatever you do or say in the name of Jesus, make sure it’s not based on YOUR words or experiences alone.  They are powerless without pointing to the sacrifice and grace of Jesus.  That’s where life-changing power lies.

x

…Am I the only one challenged or convicted by this?  How about you?

In Christianity, Missional , , ,
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Blessed Be THE Name

December 7, 2009 — 2 Comments

Resting on this truth today:

“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.”

Psalm 33:20-22

Amazing Hope Giver,

You are all knowing, all powerful, all sufficient,…You are perfect.

I know it.

I trust it.

Blessed be Your amazing name!

d

In Adoption, Family, General, Life , , , , ,
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“At Least Jesus is My Friend!”

December 3, 2009 — Leave a comment

Last night, Karen and I went on a dinner/mall date!  We had a great time at Valley Fair – Rubio’s for dinner and we hit two of the newer stores in our lives: Lego Store and Gymboree!

One the way home as we were sitting the Starbucks drive-thru (appropriately capping off the evening), we were talking about stuff and Karen made the comment, “Well, at least Jesus is my friend!”

I think most of us would agree that there is a song that applies to most of the situations we go through…OK, maybe it just a musicians thing.

Anyway, being of that mind, I quickly drew my iPhone from its holster and played the song below…twice.

We had a great laugh – just thought I would share!

Lyrics:

Jesus is My Friend
Sonseed

Jesus is a friend of mine
Jesus is my friend
Jesus is a friend of mine
I have a friend in Jesus

Jesus is a friend of mine
Jesus is my friend
Jesus is a friend of mine

He taught me how to live my life as it should be
He taught me how to turn my cheek when people laugh at me
I’ve had friends before and I can tell you that
He’s one who will never leave you flat!

He taught me how to pray and how to save my soul
He taught me how to praise my god and still play rock and roll
The music may sound different but the message is the same
It’s just an instrumental praise his name

Once I tried to run, I tried to run and hide
But Jesus came and found me and he touched me down inside
He is like a mountie, he always gets his man
And he’ll zap you any way he can. Zap!

He loves me when I’m right, He loves me when I’m wrong
He loves me when I waste my time by writing silly songs
He loves me when I’m quiet and I have nothing to say
He’ll love me when I’m perfect if I ever get that way

In Life, Love, Marriage , , ,
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Thankful for “NOTHING”

November 25, 2009 — 1 Comment

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

So my thoughts this week have been pretty much dominated by this passage – which was the passage Pastor Jason Helveston preached from last Sunday at church.

This passage is pretty marked up in my bible (as is much of the book of Philippians), but the reality that has been hitting me anew this week has been the profound truth of Jesus’ greatness and humility…and my view of that.

The one word that really hit me square in the forehead was: NOTHING

Jesus made Himself NOTHING.

The “NOTHING” He became was man.

Compared to Jesus, I AM NOTHING

though i act to the contrary at times, grasping at a perceived equality with God. (Oh, i’d never say that out loud, but actions speak louder…)

I think we concentrate on the fact that Jesus came to earth, became like us, and went through all the stuff we go through (except living/responding in a perfect way), often at the expense of our remembering He was/is GOD.

As Jason put it:

We must see Jesus on the throne before we see Him in sandals.

x

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  I, like most, am thankful for many things – especially this year, with our adoption story finally becoming a reality.

But most especially, I’m thankful that Jesus became nothing.  Thankful for the humility of Jesus.  I’m thankful for the cross.  Thankful for God’s amazing and radical love.

Maranatha!

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Everything Falls

October 21, 2009 — 1 Comment

This song and its truth have been rattling around in my head since I got Fee’s new album a few weeks ago…

The story:x

The song:

WOW and AMEN.

x

Everything Falls
Steve Fee
from Hope Rising

You said You’d never leave or forsake me, when You said this life is shake me.
You said this world is gonna bring trouble on my soul. This I know.

When everything falls apart, Your arms hold me together.
When everything falls apart You’re the only hope for this heart.
When everything falls apart and my strength is gone, I find You mighty and strong.
You keep holding on, You keep holding on.

When I see darkness all around me, when I see tragedy has found me, I still believe.
Your faithful arms will never let me go. Still I know

Sorrow will last for the night, but hope is rising with the sun, it’s rising with the sun.
There will be storms in this life, but I know You have overcome, You have overcome

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I Will Exalt You

October 1, 2009 — Leave a comment

I’m appreciating the simplicity and depth of this song right now…

I Will Exalt You
Brooke Ligertwood

I will exalt You
I will exalt You
I will exalt You
You are my God

My hiding place my safe refuge
My treasure Lord You are
My friend and King
Anointed One most holy

Because You’re with me
Because You’re with me
Because You’re with me
I will not fear

© 2009 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

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HWJD?

September 23, 2009 — Leave a comment

think3So I was a little frustrated at some stuff/people recently and got to thinking, How Would Jesus Deal?…or for the acronym-minded: HWJD?*

That’s when my head started hurting…

  • Jesus dealt with life, family, school, church, work, people situations, the “stuff” of life…just like me.
  • He ate, slept, cried, had conversation, traveled, lead people, relaxed, laughed, prayed, spent time alone and with people, faced adversity, had an adoptive father (Joseph),…just like me.  (FYI: my adoptive Father is God [Ephesians 1:4-6])
  • He had feelings: anger, happiness, sadness, concern,sympathy,…just like me.

BUT…

  • Unlike me…He was perfect.
  • Unlike me…He was sinless.
  • Unlike me…He was holy.

So, HWJD?

How Would Jesus Deal with being, as I put it above, “a little frustrated at some stuff/people”?

There are a TON of passages in the Bible that speak about this, but one immediately comes to mind.  It’s a passage that talks about an attitude that was evident in Jesus’ life and one that is really is the essence of “dealing”.  To the “expert in the law” who tested Him, Jesus offered this framework for living a life that worships God:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

Jesus was the perfect example of living this passage.  In spite of all the similarities with me (you, us) listed above, it’s the differences that set Him apart.  He loved and obeyed His Father and unconditionally loved the people with whom He “dealt” – the ones He created.  We do well to stumble and mumble at doing those things…

Will trying to live Mark 12:30-31 out and follow Jesus’ example make things magically better?  I think we all know the answer: no.  But, living out this passage through the power of the Holy Spirit enables me (you, us) to dependently fulfill our purpose in life: bringing God glory through a life of worship (Colossians 1:16).

So, HWiD? (How Will i Deal?)

Well, Jesus set the watermark.  I know full well that I cannot get close to it.  But, that does not exempt me from striving to follow Jesus’ example (through the conviction (John 16:10) and enabling power (Philippians 4:13) of the Holy Spirit).

In fact, not striving for this watermark is…well, sin:

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do [think Mark 12:30-31, at a minimum] and doesn’t do it, sins.

James 4:17

Thank God for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness:

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Maranatha!

So…  HWuD?

x

*HWJD? OR How Would Jesus Deal? – not to be confused with HWJD (How Would Jesus Drive). In writing this post, I wanted to see other uses for “HWJD”…this site was at the top of the internet search.

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No Condemnation. [Kapow!]

September 10, 2009 — Leave a comment

serie_kapowI’ve read these verses from Romans chapter eight before:

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

But today, they hit me in the gut.

As Karen and I wait for phone calls, emails, snail mail,…whatever about our adoption process, tons of thoughts run through our minds.  Last week we were talking and the subject of sin and punishment came up.  Is/was there something hindering God answering our prayer for kids?  We know there isn’t, we know and live 1 John 1:9-10.  It was “the accuser” accusing.  [OK, I’m not saying we don’t sin.  Speaking for myself, I identify with Paul’s self-evaluation in 1 Timothy 1:15 (“…of whom I am the worst.”)  Karen’s human, so she sins…  ]

In those “accuser” instances, my mind always goes back to this passage in Romans – I say in those instances, because Satan always tries to throw those (and other) thoughts at Christ Followers.  None of us is squeaky clean, and guilt can be stifling.

Anyway, today…  Me getting hit in the gut…

I’m reading a book titled, “Adopted for Life” by Dr. Russell Moore.  It’s about adoption in human terms and also in spiritual terms.  This book is for everyone, not just people adopting.  Powerful stuff!

In a passage talking about feeling like God’s punishing you, Moore writes:

“Remember, we can’t bypass Jesus…  He is the One who bore the curse on our behalf, every bit of it (Gal. 3:13).  If you’ve believed in Christ, you are blessed, not cursed, whatever your situation.

…God is not punishing you.  If you are in Christ, your punishment was adsorbed in the body of a crucified Jesus.  God may be disciplining you, shaping you, and he often uses suffering to do so, but He isn’t punishing you.  He views you within the body of Christ, and loves and delights in you.  Whatever is happening in your life, nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ (Rom. 8:31-39.)” [pg. 89-90]

x

Pow. Thwack. Kapow.*

x

Again, this is nothing new for me – I’ve heard and read this before.  …but I needed to hear it again.  I have to believe that I’m not the only one needing to hear this.

Thank you God! (take that satan!)

x

*From the “you can find anything on the Internet”: I was trying to remember the punch sounds from Batman and stumbled on this site that cataloged all the sounds…by episode.  They are now offered by me for your future use and reference! [the fact that they are in Spanish shouldn’t make a difference!] 🙂

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