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Archives For November 30, 1999

Susan B., Sardis, & Me

February 15, 2011 — Leave a comment

“Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform.”

– Susan B. Anthony

In Sunday School this quarter, we’ve been studying the letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.  This past week, we looked at the letter to Sardis – a church that seemed OK on the outside; but was, for the most part, different on the inside.  A church that was asleep, possibly complacent, just seeking “to fit in and not offend”, or, as a John MacArthur article I read put it, “[Sardis] had disintegrated and was now dead. It was suffering from dry rot while going through the motions of worship and activity.”

Continue Reading…

In Christianity, Worship , , , ,
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Great Read: “Little Words with Absolutely Huge Meaning – Use Them”

February 10, 2011 — 2 Comments

Great article over at dumblittleman.com…
Check it out – speak ’em to someone today!  [click image to read]

Not to add anything to this great article, but to simply remind those of us who follow Christ that the words we speak are as much worship of God as the songs we sing at church:

Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the
name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:17 [MSG]

In General, Life , , ,
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Thoughts on Honesty with God and In Our Worship

January 15, 2011 — 2 Comments

Man…to be able to write like this:

A Thousand pairs of fiery eyes
Burn like a serpent down the Highway 5
As the long amber tail to Los Angeles unwinds
I’ve got His resurrection down in side my skin
But for all my revelating I just cant make sense of this gravity we’re in

Cause I’m a dead man now with a ghost who lives
Within the confines of these carbon ribs
And one day when I’m free, I will sit
The cripple at your table
The cripple by your side

– Carbon Ribs, John Mark McMillan

These lyrics just reverberated in my head today as I listened to them a number of times.

I read an article about McMillan this morning and two things hit home – one about his songwriting and the other about worship, but both dealing with being honest with God.

Continue Reading…

In Christianity, General, Music , , ,
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A Hand Model and The Christian Life

December 7, 2010 — Leave a comment

As I watched this video, my mind shouted ME-TA-PHOR!!!!
[in my mind, i actually heard it in a high pitched voice]

How sad that we often live the Christian life as if we must be cloistered – sheltered or segregated – as this woman treats her hands.

Jesus didn’t live that way…why should we?  He lived in the thick of life, where we should.

Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

Romans 12:1 (MSG)


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Undone

November 19, 2010 — Leave a comment

I’ve been reading through Nehemiah and these verses hit me recently:

Ezra opened the [the Law of Moses]…and as he opened it, the people all stood up…and lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”  Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. …all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah 8:5-9

The whole of the people’s response above is sadly different from the whole repose that I often have…

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CD Review: Achor by Josh White

November 5, 2010 — Leave a comment

I had the opportunity to participate in a pre-release, group review of Josh White’s upcoming CD, Achor* – which hits the streets November 9th.

Bottom line: Achor is highly recommended personal worship CD worth adding to your collection.

Check out the group review here and preview the tracks here.

Wondering about the CD title – her’s some info…

In Music , ,
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A Holy Spirit Face Punch

September 24, 2010 — Leave a comment

The Holy Spirit always face punches me with the song order on Jon Foreman’s Limbs and Branches album…

Track #7: House of God, Forever [lyrics]

Track #8: Instead of a Show [lyrics]

…thank you God.  May I have another…

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On My Mind

September 6, 2010 — 6 Comments

Music is a big part of who I am.  The two songs below are resonating in me right now as my dad and step-mom died in a car accident over the weekend.

We are still grappling with it all, but the certainty is:

  • God is faithful, His ways are higher than mine, and (not but) I will worship Him in His graciousness and sovereignty.
  • Jesus wept, so we weep.  Jesus grieved, so we grieve; though differently than those without hope given by God.
  • My dad, my step-mom, and my mom (who went to be with Jesus a few years ago) are all worshiping Jesus with perfect and whole bodies.
  • One day, I and my family will stand beside them and worship Jesus together again.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Blessed Be Your name [song story]:

Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name

Joy [story behind the song]

In Christianity, Family, Life , , , , , ,
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Double Rainbow Guy and Worship

August 25, 2010 — Leave a comment

I was introduced to the “Double Rainbow Guy” phenomenon Monday morning. Not sure how I missed Hungrybear9562’s Double Rainbow video when it went viral…but, now I’m caught up.

If you’re not familiar with it, take a look for yourself:

Ummm. Wow. Here is a guy who is com-plete-ly overcome by the double rainbow in his front yard! Overcome, mind you, without any outside “influences” (according to various interviews he’s given.)

After watching the video a few times and laughing quite a bit, it hit me: I guess that is they way we are to be in complete and utter awe and undone amazement of God. Three verses came to mind:

Continue Reading…

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Like Incense/Sometimes By Step

July 9, 2010 — Leave a comment

This track off the new Hillsong Live A Beautiful Exchange release is getting the most play right now…

May my prayer like incense rise before You
The lifting of my hands a sacrifice
Oh Lord Jesus turn Your eyes upon me
For I know there is mercy in Your sight
Your statues are my heritage forever
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
Please still my anxious urge toward rebellion
Let love keep my will upon its knees

Oh God You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God You are my God
And I will ever praise You

To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun
All Your ways are loving and are faithful
Your road is narrow but Your burden light
Because You gladly lean to lead the humble
I shall gladly kneel to leave my pride

I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Brooke Ligertwood | David Strasser | Rich Mullins
© 2009 Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) | (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)

In Christianity, Music ,
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