…on Worship through song…

“We sing because we are happy, and if we’re not happy, we sing until we get happy.” -unknown

Profound…

Breaking the Cycle of Life

We see and hear throughout our lives that “for everything there is a season and a time” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is most certainly the acknowledgement of this, but I question how often we actually put such a realization into practice.

Today, I woke at 9 am, had breakfast with my roommate, and then went to an airshow with Jeff Lewis at noon. We had planned to get away for only a couple of hours, but due to a series of circumstances, ended up being gone for about 8 hours. I left a roomful of laundry that needed to be done, arrangements that needed to be written, fines that needed to be balanced, phone calls that needed to be returned, but found that in the midst of all of these things, normal routines of life, I found great joy and refreshment in doing nothing. There is a certain value in stopping what we see as important to enjoy the people that the Lord has placed into our loves to have good conversation with, and to simply stop and reflect. Granted, this does not give license for running from committments that exist, but if we truly believe that there is a time for everything, then that also means that there is time to stop and do absolutely nothing. Take time to breathe… it is well worth it.

C.S. Lewis on Love and Affection

“Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. It is a noble feeling, but still a feeling… who could bear to live in this excitement for even five years? But of course, ceasing to ‘be in love’ need not mean ceasing to love. Love in a second sense, love as distinct from being in love is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will… strengethened by habit… reinforced by grace…”

Consider our love for our God; is deliberate? Is it strengthened by the time which we spend with him? Is it as great as that which he has for us? Some things to think on…

In Need of Repair and Glad for It

“We never give up…” -2 Cor. 4
Sometimes, as earthen vessels, we are placed on pedestals for examination by those whom we are used around. Such an examination reveals cracking, age, signs of imperfection and the need for repair and renewal, but it is a greater opportunity to be pulled from out of the daily needs of life and allows for the Potter to restore that which is in need. And so, we do not lose heart because we are imperfect, but rejoice that our Lord renews our Spirits day by day, in his perfect time, in ways which are best in his perspective, and most often, not in ours.

Man, five consecutive nights of night runs in a dorm are brutal. And what good realization and appreciation does it bring to no longer be on curfew. I’m going to bed.

Walk Blamelessly…

What does it mean, to be “blameless” (Prov. 10:29)? …to honor Christ, yes, but it is more than that… pragmatically, how does this look?

Thoughts?

The Censoring of Bob the Tomato

NBC has bought the rights to the VeggieTales series, but the distinctive content of the popular cartoon phenomenon is being removed by orders of the network’s program standards officials. Bob the Tomato’s signature sign-off line, “God made you special and he loves you very much,” was replaced with “Thanks for coming over to my house, kids. See you next week.”

Read this post by Al Mohler for the full story…

It is a sad, sad state that we live in when the very means by which the Gospel is presented to children is tweaked and toyed with, and even slaughtered by the media. Is it right for us to sit back as more mature believers who see the next generation’s perception of Christ (even if it is through a cartoon series with talking vegetables) being mutilated? Should it not be our place to rise up, and not only take a stand, but to do something about it? Again, we need sound teaching from our churches, sound leadership in our homes, and hearts that are seeking Christ in our people…

The Problem with Fire

One of the four seasons of Los Angeles (or Southern California) is Fire Season. We are in the midst of it as I write this. One fire is burning just outside of Castaic, about 20 miles from school, producing a lovely plume of white and black smoke. As a matter of fact, my US History class was cancelled today because of the fire’s proximity to my professor’s home. Despite the smoke in the day, it does merit some beautiful sunsets (above) we have enjoyed for the past two weeks.

There is a problem with fire, however. The smoke, though it produces beautiful distortions of sun rays, also produces problems for the air. Sinuses everywhere have been screaming for relief from the dust particles being released into the air, and fresh air has been absent for a while, and will remain such untill the rains come. I have been thinking that the fire is similar to the American Church today. Our churches teach that we should be emotional in all that we do… from our preaching to our style of music, to dramas, to our dynamic youth and children’s problems… all to “be on fire for God”. Inherently, there is nothing wrong with this desire, but the manifestation of it results in an emotional frenzy which masks problems which may exist. By feeding the “fire”, we create an outward tapestry of “put-together-ness” for the world to see. The American Church appears beautiful and on fire for God, but in reality, the desire create passion ignores the absence of a foundation.

We have substituted sound doctrine for watered down declarations of the “feel good Gospel”. We have replaced the desire to “come back to the heart of worship” with light shows and concert settings which are ruled by preferences rather than convicitons. We adore ourselves rather than the Creator God, and are content with it.

There is a fire raging… if it continues, we will certainly continue to see the church living in darkness, who appears to be beautiful from what it does, but in reality is at its core, a plume of smoke, obstructing the true Light of the World, and refracting Him into something that He is not and does not desire His bride to be. If we are not careful, this fire will to consume that which is content with its state of complacency…

Still, Still, Still

Yea, it is a Christmas carol, one beloved by many, but more than that, it is the attitude and posture of our hearts which we forsake too often. Too often we do not allow ourselves to be still before Creator God, to quiet the busyness of life and incessant, selfish chatter of our hearts, and simply allow Him to be heard in the silence. He came to Elijah not in the wind, the fire, or even the earthquake, but in the stillness. He came to meet the physical needs of His own Son, not in the midst of thousands of people on a crowded street, but in the middle of a barren desert.

When was the last time that we took time to be still before God? Truly, yea, verily still….

Take some time to “consider Jesus” (Heb. 3)… it will be well worth your time.

Why are we content with spiritual dichotomy within our lives?