Notice Where the Guard is Posted

“‘Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips’
Psalm 141:3

“. . . Notice where the guard is posted. Not at the ear—to protect us from being hurt by words we might hear, or at the heart—to shield us from the wounds that are sometimes caused by what others do.

Rather, the Psalmist asked God to post a sentinel at his own mouth knowing that the greatest danger he faced was not what others might do to him, but rather, what he might say that would harm others...”

From Nancy Leigh DeMoss The Power of Words,

A Transforming Difference

I watched this and now I am pondering this:

Our difference from the world,
not our similarity to it sets us apart.

But even though Christ followers
are called to be different,
we’re also called to
transform the world.

Here lies the tension.

We can’t be so far removed from the world
that we lose contact,
and we can’t be so much like the world
that we’re no different from it.

~ Kary Oberbrunner

I Want the Whole Gospel

By James MacDonald

I Want the Whole Gospel

Every single ounce of truth; give it to me straight just like it is in the Bible.

I want the whole gospel:

Don’t dilute the living water—it might not quench my thirsty soul.

I want the whole gospel:

Turn on the light of Jesus Christ and don’t shield my view—I need every beam of His radiant glory to dispel the darkness in me.

I want the whole gospel:

Don’t block the door, or I might not get through.

I want the whole gospel:

I need an accurate map to the narrow road, because only a few are finding it.

I want the whole gospel:

Because I am wholly lost, God’s verdict is wholly just, and my damnation is wholly certain.

My heart is wholly depraved and my sin is wholly mine.

My efforts are wholly futile and my escapes are wholly hopeless.

I need a whole Savior, whose whole suffering, wholly satisfies a holy God.

Please, please don’t cut the corners. It’s appointed unto man once to die and I have to be sure I get it right.

I have to have the whole gospel—give it to me straight. Nothing else will do!

Yes…God help us, let’s give the whole gospel.

Just For Fun

OK, there is nothing particularly edifying about this post, it just cracked me up.

22 Essential Words for Writing Cheesy Christian Pop Songs:
by Joshua Harris

1. Mountain
2. Love
3. River
4. Ocean
5. Amazed
6. Imagine
7. Valley
8. Believe
9. Waves
10. Running
11. Deep
12. Shout
13. Stillness
14. Moment
15. Arms
16. Tears
17. Walk
18. Hills
19. Reaching
20. Waters
21. Joy
22. Peace

The Difference is Jesus!

The difference between the hell I deserve and the grace I enjoy is Jesus Christ.
He is God.
He did die for sinners.
He did rise in victory.
He is alive ruling from his throne today.
He is still at work in the world.
He will be with us forever.
And, one day we will rise to be with him, for him, and like him forever as all that will remain is to enjoy his grace together forever.

Mark Driscoll

Not Clever, But Clear

Pastor Mark Driscoll on preaching Easter:

My encouragement to all Christian preachers is to not get too fancy on Easter.

It is the day we want to be incredibly clear about the death of Jesus for our sins and the resurrection of Jesus for our salvation.

We do not need to be clever. We need to be clear.

And we need to add to that clarity a fitting and authentic excitement for the victory of Jesus Christ over Satan, sin, death, hell, and the wrath of God while calling sinners to be saved.

We Need A Savior

Last week Isaiah sent me a wonderful palm branch he made out of construction paper at Cubbies. On it was a very sweet note that made me cry. It just doesn't get any easier living so far away from each other.

I hung it in my kitchen right above Taryn's Picasso cow art project. :-) Every time I see it I smile....and think of Isaiah.

This week we had a flu bug hit us hard. I am now behind on everything, but most of all in preparing my heart for Easter. Today Isaiah's palm leaf made me think of Palm Sunday so I started some reading on it. I thot this was an interesting perspective:

"The truth must essentially be regarded as in conflict with this world; the world has never been so good, and will never become so good that the majority will never desire the truth." Soren Kierkegaard

On Palm Sunday, the Truth rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s back. Although the crowds cheered the Truth, beneath the surface a conflict raged. The majority did not want the Truth that day, nor have they wanted the Truth on any day since that day. ~ Dr. R Pritchard

A sad thot - but what blessed me was Jesus example. To ponder that Truth went humbly yet confidently into their world - right among them - risking everything, because Truth in love brought their only hope.

Truth is not always winsome. It confronts where it enters, not necessarily by what it does but by the nature of what it is. But Truth must go there.

It takes courage to bring Truth into the center of our world today. It is still not welcomed but often confronted and rejected. But Truth must go there.

Truth is desperately needed because we all desperately need a Savior.

Passion Week

I just found this post by Todd Bolen, one of Taya's college professors when she studied in Israel. I am excited to incorporate this into my week...and to tuck it away for future reference.

A few years ago I went through and tried to pick the “fullest” account of each event and I created a list (doc). You can read through each day’s events either in a regular Bible or in a gospel harmony.

On Preaching by Mark Driscoll

The following excerpt on preaching is from Vintage Church pages 90 and 104:

Jesus' ministry included feeding the hungry, healing the sick, loving the outcast, and befriending the sinner. But we must never forget that Jesus' ministry began with preaching.

Thus, preaching is the first priority of ministry that leads God's mission, which is accompanied by various other ministries that support, supplement, and sustain the preaching of God's Word in truth with passion....

There is an ongoing debate as to the purpose of the sermon and whether it should focus on converting the lost or maturing the saved.

The apparent conflict between preaching for seekers and preaching for believers is resolved simply by noting that both need to repent of sin and trust in Jesus to live a new life empowered by the Spirit.

Therefore, a sermon can and should effectively communicate to both audiences, and it will if the preacher is able to go after the root of sin and explain Christian jargon in order to speak the "tongue" of the hearer. This includes saying the name of Jesus and making him known.

Ouch!

Ok, this is an "ouch" you gotta see.

Surrendered and Sanctified

Yesterday I was catching up on some tweets on Twitter, and I noted one from Amy which said "Reflecting on how God has sanctified me, one year after my surgery" with a link to her blog.

My first thot was, I didn't know she had had surgery, and my second thot was a curiosity at how she perceived Gods work in her life during that experience. So I went to Amy's blog and was so blessed.

She is an amazing writer, reader, thinker, and follower of Jesus. I learned much about this last year of her life both - physically and spiritually - thru that one post. I loved her transparency, and could so relate to a year of lessons learned thru various life experiences and trials.

But it is in times of reflecting over sections of life that we view God's hand and work in our lives best. As time passes and I am pulled back a bit from situations I've journeyed through, I have better perspective and a clearer view of God's work in me.

Warren Wiersbe talks about turning trials into triumphs of Gods grace in our lives. He says there are four essentials for victory in trials: a joyful attitude, and understanding mind, a surrendered will, and a heart that wants to believe.

Looks good on paper but how hard it can be in the real moments of my life. Yet I know it is His work, and that God's purpose for me is perfect and can be trusted.

Amy closed her post by offering the opportunity readers to learn more about "this uniquely Christian concept of Godly suffering which leads to sanctification (personal growth, becoming more like Jesus)" by listening to a recent Sunday message from her Pastor on trials which she linked to.

I would like to post that link as well. It is a powerful message called “Submission to UnGodly Authority”.

May God walk closely by your side and mine as we are surrendered and sanctified to Him.

Name the Lie, Insert the Truth

The battleground for spiritual warfare is in one word: truth.

As an angel of light, Satan lies to God's people. The battle is going on right now in the mind of every person reading this.

We get victory by following Jesus' example in battling Satan. In Matthew 4, Satan tempted Christ with lies. Make these stones into bread... (v.3). Cast Yourself down from the temple... (v.6).

In response to each taunt, Jesus named the lie and inserted the truth. Jesus said, you say this, but God says this.

~ James MacDonald

Although Satan is powerful, he's a weakling when faced with Scripture. He's unimpressed with our incantations or the clever things we say, but he'll run from God's Word that lives and abides forever.

It's God's truth that sets you free.

Here's the goal: when Satan lies to you about spiritual issues that undermine your confidence and security in Christ Jesus, name the lie and insert God's truth.

Balance

Balance is essential.

My life has always been a tug of war between one thing and another. Sovereignty and free will, grace and truth, leading and submitting, acting and waiting, doing and being, compassion and conviction, the list could go on but I have never found a lot of blessing in the extremes.

When I have gotten out on one edge or the other I have always struggled. The only place I have experienced true power is in the balance.

While some seem content to focus on one or the other I find myself sometimes torn or even tortured by the need for balance.

Extreme is easy, balance is hard.

Jesus said, “these things you ought to have done without leaving the others undone” (Luke 11:42). I hope my family will know in me a measured man who knew no extremes other than “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:2).

- James MacDonald

“‘I Will Not Be a Velvet-Mouthed Preacher!’

John Piper’s latest biographical sermon is now available (audio, text). His subject was George Whitefield and his title was “‘I Will Not Be a Velvet-Mouthed Preacher!’ The Life and Ministry of George Whitefield: Living and Preaching as Though God Were Real (Because He Is).”

Revelation Song

It has been an incredible weekend, and it's taken me a bit of time to process our worship today. Describing it challenges me.

Our choir joined the worship team, and then shared Revelation Song. I've been anticipating this all week because this song has captured me. I have loved it from the first time I heard it.

This song proclaims powerfully the majesty of who God is, and then joins the heavenly chorus of Revelations - "And they do not rest day or night, saying: ' Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!'…"

As we prepared for our first service Saturday nite we were told of the death of seven year old champion whose name is Tyler. Our church has walked beside Tyler and his family thu the diagnosis of a brain tumor right up to Tyler's journey home to Jesus yesterday.

On this weekend our pastors were walking wounded. I watched them press hard on the One who is still good and still worthy of praise, and from that posture faithfully lead the church in the truth that even "death has no final word" because our God "hold the keys of life" and "is a God who saves".

Then following worship our choir sang Revelation Song - the song that heaven sings - and powerful worship happened at CTK.

On Saturday nite people rose to their feet singing and worshiping with the choir thru the final chorus and into a powerful verse of the traditional hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy".

Then on Sunday morning, in the first of our three services, people actually came out of their seats into the aisles and on their knees before the Lord in worship:

"Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings. You are my everything, and I will adore You"

Witnessing this from stage I was completely undone. God was so present, so worthy, so worshiped. As a choir we wept, and then we prayed together that people would see Jesus...in this place...on this day...for who He is - Worthy.

Worthy in life and worthy in death.

And I am still singing this song.

Pondering....

This is what I am pondering today:

The kingdom of God is real. At this very moment Jesus sits in the seat of cosmic authority. He is now the supreme ruler of the world. He stands over the governments of this world. He is King.

The Premier of the Soviet Union must answer to Him. The Dalai Lama of Tibet must answer to Him. The Prince of Morocco must answer to Him. The President of the United States must answer to Him.

But there is one big problem. His kingdom is invisible. Not everyone knows about it. All over the world people are living as if Jesus were not King.

Some people believe that there is no God. Others say that there are many gods. Some folks believe that man is supreme. Others believe that man is worthless.

Many people believe there is a God, but they live as if there were no God.

Some ask, "What difference does it make?"

Where Christ is invisible, people perish. Where His reign is unknown or ignored, people are exploited. They are demeaned. They are enslaved. They are butchered. They are aborted. They are raped. They are casualties of war. They are robbed. They are slandered. They are oppressed. They are cheated in marriage. They are cheated in their wages. They are left to go hungry, naked, and unsheltered. They are consigned to loneliness. They are ridiculed. They are frightened..

That, and a whole lot more, is what difference it makes.

~ R.C. Sproul

Keep On!

By James MacDonald

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . . Hebrews 12:1

My son Luke and I were on the computer a while back when I asked for his password. He answered, "It's 'Keep on.'" I told him that was a great password and he said, "Oh Dad, that's my password for everything."

Keep on. Keep on. Keep on.

For sure he'll change his password now, but I hope he'll never change his perspective. These two words are critical to success in life and in the Christian life. The biblical word is endurance or perseverance--the ability to keep on doing the things you have committed yourself to doing when you feel like it and when you don't. Nothing is more essential to success in the Christian life than perseverance. Faith gets you started; perseverance keeps you going.

This matter of perseverance is so critical to the Christian life that James 1 tells us that above all other human traits, perseverance is the characteristic that God is trying to build into your life and mine. The ability to keep on going. Keep making and keeping the commitments of life.

It's easy to start the race. All kinds of people get up in the morning and put their jogging suit on and begin to run. But when the miles click past and the muscles start to fatigue and life isn't easy anymore, what do they do?

What do you do?

It's easy to put on a white dress or a tuxedo and get to the front of the church; everybody knows that. But to have a happening marriage--not for five--but for 15 or 40 years, that takes perseverance!

It's easy to conceive a child and, by comparison, it's easy to birth a child, but to keep on training and raising those kids day in and day out, following through on what you have said and taught--that takes commitment!

Might I say in addition to that, it's easy to pray a prayer and walk an aisle; it's easy to confess faith in Christ. But to keep on following Christ--even when the pressure is on--that takes staying power. "My brothers, consider it pure joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the trying of your faith produces perseverance."

Staying power! Did you know that if God could get that one thing into your life, He could give you everything else? James 1 goes on to say, "But let perseverance have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (v.4).

This week we stand on the hinge between two years--2008 and 2009. How will these two years mark your life? Look back on 2008 for a moment. If your year was like mine, you can see some pretty significant peaks and valleys. Praise God for them. Praise God that at this year's end, you can stand before Him in faith and humility and say, "No matter what is behind me, I finish this year strong in Christ." Like Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 "but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" I press on--that's perseverance.

Now look ahead to 2009. You don't know what the year will bring, but you can be sure of this, God is faithful. His mercies will be new every morning of every day of the new year. There's power in the day when you start it with faith in God and a commitment to perseverance.

Keep on--it's a great password for 2009.

Suffering's Goal

There is no distinction between suffering in the sense of persecution for your faith and suffering in general.

Regardless of the kind of suffering, Satan’s goal is always to destroy your faith and God’s goal is always to strengthen your faith.

Tom Bosworth
Notes from Desiring God Conference

God Is The Issue

"We can trace all our human problems to our view of God." ~ Bill Bright

I just discovered a link to a wonderful resourse for every believer. Bradley Brights book God Is The Issue is now available to be downloaded for free at discovergod.com

I encourage you to that advantage of this incredible opportunity. His writing is very powerful, and very needed by every believer.

Trying to suppress cultural symptoms apart from the larger context of God's identity has proven futile. It's like patching the surface cracks in the walls of a house while ignoring an unstable foundation. The cracks will return unless the foundation is repaired.

Too often we find ourselves reacting to symptoms such as abortion and same sex marriage, instead of recognizing the real problem–our view of God. We must stop reacting and begin to reframe just as the Apostle Paul did in Athens.

Making God the issue is the only issue on which all the others issues stand or fall. If we win the battle over who God is, we will win all the other battles. If we lose the battle over who God is we will lose all the other battles. This is the pivotal choice of our time.

Yours for making GOD the issue,

Brad Bright

Bradley R. Bright is President & CEO of the Bright Media Foundation, and the National Director of DISCOVER GOD, a strategy with the goal of changing the way Americans view God - first in the Church and then throughout the culture.

I Believe!

Enjoy "Creation Calls" by Brian Doerksen.

Raising the Dead to Life

“Christianity isn’t merely about making good people better; it’s about raising the dead to life.”

~ Robert Capon

The dead spots in all of our lives are precisely the ones Jesus tends to aim his full focus, for while they remain in us, we can’t be whom we were meant to be. For Jesus wants us whole, and as CS Lewis said in Mere Christianity, He is not going to finish with us until the whole work is done.

When we are willing to come face to face with our individual, unique blind spot, holding our Lord’s hand while we summon this courage, we can find that our worst problem has been trying to tell us something important—as all pain does.

But once we listen to what it has to tell us, willing at last to accept God’s power within us to change it, then the dark cloud over that part of our lives can lift, revealing the brightest of sunshine.

~ Stephen Reed

On Worship

Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are – mind, emotions, will, body – to what God is and says and does.

~ Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship, p. 26

I've been pondering worship today. I participated in worship this weekend - four services in all - and it had an incredible impact on me.

I was profoundly affected by the truths we were singing. Much of what we sang was directly taken from Scripture. All of it was truths about God, His character and His greatness.

Expressing truth thru music and worship has such a way of capturing hearts. I feel it happen in my own heart. My eyes are taken off however I am feeling or anything I have brot with me emotionally to church, and is directed to the only One who is worthy of praise.

I see it in other members the worship team and choir. I see the tears on the faces around me, hear the emotion in voices as the Word move deeply in hearts softened by worship. Words seem to be sung more passionately with each service because they are set deeper in our hearts each time we sing them. That is, at least, what I feel.

There are even moments we can't sing. Twice this happened to Jared this morning. Instead of leading in the next verse he had to simply take a moment and lift his hands to the Lord, as the musicians continuing playing till he could sing again.

I see it in a director that is so moved by the Truth of the words she stops directing the choir in the middle of a song and raised her hands in worship. I have never seen or experienced this type of directing before.

And I see it in the church body as they sing with us. I can't even describe what it is like to see glimpses of what is happening in hearts during worship, but it's amazing, incredible and powerful. I am so blessed to be a tiny part of such a powerful work of God. How great is our God!

Click and enjoy a moment of worship in your day!

How Great is our God

The splendour of the King, robed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide

And trembles at His voice, trembles at His voice

How great is our God,

Sing with me, how great is our God

And all we see how great....how great is our God!

And age to age He stands, and time is in His hand

Begining and the end, begining and the end

The Godhead three in one - Father, Spirit, Son

The lion and the lamb, the lion and the lamb

Here's another definition of worship I like:

Christian worship is the response of God’s redeemed people to His self-revelation that exalts God’s glory in Christ in our minds, affections, and wills, in the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Bob Kauflin

Christian worship…is different from every kind of worship because it has been made possible through Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:9-10

Is the response…God has already done something outside of us and inside of us that enables us to worship Him. We are not the initiators of worship; God is. Acts 17:24-31

Of God’s redeemed people…Just as God delivered the nation of Israel from Egypt to worship Him Exodus 8:1, so He has redeemed us as a holy nation to declare His praises. 1 Peter 2:9 Worship of God is intended to be corporate, not simply personal.

To his self-revelation…we can’t know God apart from Him revealing Himself to us. He has shown Himself to us in creation, His Word, and ultimately His Son. Romans 1:20

That exalts…the essence of worship is exalting - raising up, lifting high, submitting to, magnifying, making much of, honoring, reverencing, celebrating – the triune God. Psalm 71:19

God’s glory in Christ…Moses asked God to show him his glory and God passed before him and proclaimed his nature. Exodus 34:6-7. God has enabled us to see His glory in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

In our minds…worship involves thinking, meditating, reflecting, processing, evaluating, understanding what God has revealed to us of Himself. Romans 12:1-2

Affections…true worship involves the heart as well as the head. We worship what we love and value the most. (Mt. 22:37-38)

And wills…If we are truly worshipping God, we will truly be transformed. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Our choices will reflect our profession that God is supreme in our lives. Romans 12:1-2

In the power of the Holy Spirit…We are those who worship by the Spirit of God, Philippians 3:3, and depend on His leading and enabling.

Contentment

How can we learn contentment?

~ J. R. Miller, "The Hidden Life" 1895

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Philippians 4:11

How can we learn contentment?

One step toward contentment, is patient submission to unavoidable ills and hardships. No earthly lot is perfect. No mortal ever yet in this world, has found a set of circumstances without some drawback.

There are . . .trials which we cannot change into blessings, burdens which we cannot lay down, crosses which we must continue to carry, thorns in the flesh which must remain with their rankling pain.

When we have such trials, why should we not sweetly accept them as part of God’s best way with us?

Discontent never made . . . a rough path smoother, a heavy burden lighter, a bitter cup less bitter, a dark way brighter, a sore sorrow less sore.

It only makes matters worse! One who accepts with patience, that which he cannot change–has learned one secret of victorious living.

Another part of the lesson, is that we can learn to moderate our desires. "Having food and clothing," says Paul again, "let us be content with these." Very much of our discontent arises from envy of those who seem to be more favored than ourselves.

Many people lose most of the comfort out of their own lot–in coveting the finer, more luxurious things which some neighbor has. Yet if they knew the whole story of the life they envy for its greater prosperity, they probably would not exchange for it their own lowlier life, with its more humble circumstances. Or if they could make the exchange, it is not likely they would find half so much real happiness in the other position, as they would have enjoyed in their own.

Contentment does not dwell so often in palaces–as in the homes of the humble. The tall peaks rise higher, and are more conspicuous–but the winds smite them more fiercely than they do the quiet valleys. And surely, the lot in life which God makes for us–is always the best which could be made for us for the time. He knows better than we do–what our true needs are.

The real cause of our discontent is not in our circumstances; if it were, a change of circumstances might cure it. It is in ourselves, and wherever we go–we shall carry our discontent heart with us. The only cure which will affect anything–must be the curing of the fever of discontent in us.

A fine secret of contentment, lies in finding and extracting all the pleasure we can get from the things we have–the common, everyday things; while we enter upon no mad, vain chase after impossible dreams. In whatever state we are in–we may find therein enough for our need.

Laminin

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

I dare you to watch this!

"For by Him (Christ) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together."

~ Colossians 1:21

FIREPROOF

There is a new movie coming out September 26 I hope you'll make an effort to see. It's called FIREPROOF.

FIREPROOF is the third feature film from Sherwood Pictures the creators of FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL. Described as a hope-filled, heartfelt storytelling from the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church.

Here's a glimpse of the plot:

At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter...just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being "good enough" for her husband.

Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks.

As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare."

Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book's daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened.

You can visit their web site to view the trailer...and here's a great article from Family Life's Dennis Rainey "Nine Steps To Fireproof Your Marriage."

Vitamins For Your Marriage

I really had to laugh when I read Beth Moore's oldest daughter Amanda describe this book as being "like vitamins for your marriage", but it's so true!

I too, highly recommend "Devotions For A Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas.

Here's a marriage vitamin for your day:

"Personal worship is an absolute necessity for a strong marriage. It comes down to this: If I stop receiving from God, I start demanding from others.

Instead of appreciating and loving and serving others, I become disappointed in them. Instead of cherishing my husband, I become aware of his shortcomings. I take out my frustrations with a less-than-perfect life and somehow blame him for my lack of fulfillment.

But when my heart gets filled by God's love and acceptance, I'm set free to love instead of worrying about being loved. I'm motivated to serve instead of becoming obsessed about whether I'm being served. I'm moved to cherish instead of feeling unappreciated."

A Soul Filled With God - Pg 9

P.S. I'm looking forward to an afternoon seminar by Gary Thomas at my Church - Bellingham CTK - on October 12.

His Bigness...My Smallness

I've been following Dr Del Tackett's trip to the Grand Canyon on his personal blog. He traveled there with other scholars and professionals to examine the geographical evidence as it relates to the Great Flood. It is a fascinating read.

Having spent some time in the canyons these past two summers I have truly enjoyed following his experiences and insights.

He recently posted his "final reflections" and this was his closing comment.

"I learned a lot of lessons in the Canyon. The biggest was my smallness…the ultimate smallness of man in the face of an infinite, holy and just God. The unthinkable might and power of God as He uses the physical elements of His creation in contrast to my own personal smallness and weakness.

Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing…we are nothing.

Funny, isn’t it? It was there in the book all the time."

So true! I have felt it.

As the Hurricane Approaches

By: Jon Bloom

Like many of you, we have relatives and friends that live directly in the path of this storm. Events like this remind us that “here we have no lasting city” (Heb. 13:14). Everything can shake. Everything can be destroyed. We are very small and not in control.

The Lord wants us to remember those in distress and pray for them. He loves to answer prayer. We don’t want to fail in doing that.

And he also wants us to take shelter in his massive sovereignty. Here is what I wrote this morning to a dear friend who lives in the path of the storm’s eye:

The Lord of every storm and every rain drop and every wind gust and every house and every street and every tree and every power line and every car and every life will “never leave you nor forsake you. Therefore we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man [or nature] do to me’” (Heb 13:5-6).

For I am sure that neither tribulation nor distress nor persecution nor famine nor nakedness nor sword nor death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35, 38-39).

Ike is no match for Jesus Christ. Even the winds and water obey his commands (Luke 8:25). All his disciples are safe in his boat, even as the winds rage and the waves slap over the sides.

Spiritual Stirrups

The quote I have pondered today:

"Luther said the devil doesn't care which side of the horse we fall off of—as long as we don't stay in the saddle. A saddle has two stirrups. To stay in the saddle, the church needs to mount the horse with one foot solidly in the stirrup of truth, and the other solidly in the stirrup of grace."

From Randy Alcorn's "The Grace And Truth Paradox"

A Treasure!

I just found the link to an amazing web site - the complete English Standard Version Bible is available on-line. You can read is, browse it, search it, compare it, print it, study it...and even hear it! I just listened to Ephesians 1.

Described as " a new, essentially literal translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty and readability".

This is an incredible resource for every believer. I am so excited! Check it out and see what you think.

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/

“The ESV satisfies the preaching, memorizing, studying, and reading needs of our church, from children to adults. We are building all of our future ministry around it.” ~ John Piper

“After twenty years of teaching God’s Word and changing translations I have found at last, by God’s grace, a translation that is easy to read and immensely accurate. The ESV is the new first choice for serious students and careful communicators of God’s unchanging Word.”
~ James MacDonald

“Having now read through the ESV several times in my personal devotional life, I have adopted it as the primary text for my teaching and writing ministry. My hope is that the ESV will draw millions of people into the reading and study of God’s Word and into a more intimate relationship with the God of the Word.”
~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

“Retaining the majesty of language with the clarity of thought, the English Standard Version is a grand accomplishment.”
~ Dr. Ravi Zacharias

“The ESV represents a new level of excellence in Bible translations—combining unquestionable accuracy in translation with a beautiful style of expression. It is faithful to the text, easy to understand, and a pleasure to read. This is a translation you can trust.”
~ Dr. R. Albert Mohler