One Touch

Here I am, just a remnant of a man
Standing high on pride
Treading lightly on my shaky ground
Not wanting to make a sound
For fear of waking up inside

Here I am, just a remnant of a man
Lost without a trace
Walking softly on Your solid rock
Not wanting to give me up
I just tiptoe through your grace

But, one touch is all it takes
To feel your love for me
One touch is all it takes
And my eyes begin to see
One touch is all it takes
To convict me of my sin
One touch is all it takes
For me to let You in

Here I am, still a remnant of a man
Starting to count the cost
Feeling trapped by my selfish flesh
Not wanting to feel your breath
But hating to always feel lost

Here I am, still a remnant of a man
Saying yes I do believe
Casting aside all my selfish rights
Knowing they’re not worth the fight
I just ask to be received

And, one touch is all it takes
To feel your love for me
One touch is all it takes
And my eyes begin to see
One touch is all it takes
To convict me of my sin
One touch is all it takes
Jesus please come in

Love in the Truth.

Another (Extra)ordinary day...

It was 17 years ago today. I was working as a "dish pig" at a Greek restaurant in Ottawa. I lived with my parents. I had a bus pass...You guessed it - this guy is a LOSER, and I was.

Can you remember a time in your life when you were just kind of on auto-pilot? When life really sucked - for lack of a better term? I was 22, hooked on drugs, boarder-line alcoholic...you know I was the classic "don't bring that guy home" guy.

Tuesday, March 30, 1993. Just another ordinary day until...

I saw her. She was beautiful. She literally took my breath away; I was speechless. Well almost. I turned to the friends I was with and said, "that's the girl I'm going to marry". Three and half years later, I did just that! True story!

Where are you at today? Perhaps today will not be ordinary for you after all.

Live. Love. Laugh.

I thank God for my wife. Today and everyday - life is good.

Love in the Truth.

Blogging from A to Z(ed) - I'm Canadian!

My brother Gregg over at Gospel Driven Disciples has taken up this challenge from Tossing It Out. So I figured that I would give it a go as well! Should be fun...if only for me! So here's the deal - if you subtract the 5 Sundays in April you are left with 26 days. The idea is to write a blog post that begins with the letters of the alphabet - 26 letters in 26 days - you get the drift.

Here's where my brain is taking me in planning ahead (scary thought, I know):

1. A = Atonement
2. B = Barabbas
3. C = Calvary

Of course, I do reserve the right to change my mind. That said, thanks for the heads-up Gregg!

Love in the Truth.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd — That's Relationship!

I shall not want — That's Supply!

He makes me to lie down in green pastures — That's Rest!

He leads me besides the quiet waters — That's Refreshment!

He restores my soul — That's Healing!

He guides me in the paths of righteousness — That's Guidance!

For His name sake — That's Purpose!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death — That's Testing!

I fear no evil — That's Protection!

For You are with me — That's Faithfulness!

Your rod and Your staff they comfort me — That's Discipline!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies — That's Hope!

You have anointed my head with oil — That's Consecration!

My cup overflows — That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life — That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord — That's Security!

Forever — That's Eternity!

Love in the Truth.

Making Sense of Eschatology

Here are some great resources to help you understand the different views of the end-times in Scripture. For the record - I am Historic Premillennial...but I'm knocking on the Amillennial door...I just can't get myself through it!

Following the videos is an e-book entitled "Endtimes Q&A" which gives a little more insight. The information is compliments of David Murray and his excellent blog, Head Heart Hand.

null

HT / Challies

Love in the Truth.

To God Be the Glory

This video reminded me off my friends, Dave and Debbie Yule. Debbie is pregnant and fighting breast cancer. She is going to be - Lord willing - induced this weekend. I know they would covet your prayers that all goes well for mother and child. Pray for Dave and their five daughters as well.

Through this trial, Dave has been "sorrowful yet always rejoicing". Both He and Debbie have been an encouragement to my heart. They - like Zac Smith - have been thankful to the God who gives and takes away. "To God be the Glory."

Love in the Truth.

Something Better...

Let's say I went to Bible school to be trained for ministry. Let's say after my studies a church asked me to be their pastor. After all, I had been preaching their during my time at school. Let's say, I declined because I didn't feel it was "God's will" because...

Let's say I wanted to be an evangelist - in the big city of course - because I feel that's "God's will" for me. Let's say after a short time I change my mind because now I feel it's not "God's will" because...

Let's say there is a great mission organization that helps small rural churches find missionary pastors. Let's say I decide to apply because that's "God's will" for me. Let's say I raise support from a bunch of people, go for training, and move to my new church home. Let's say just after a year, I realize this isn't "God's will" for me because...

Let's say the same school that trained me to be a pastor has offered me a job. So...I leave another church, and a mission because I feel this is "God's will" for me. Well...it is until I find out what I want to do which of course will be "God's will"...at least until something better comes along...

Let's say...pathetic

Love in the Truth.

Instant Depravity

Just a little humour to reveal a sad truth - our hearts are desperately wicked.

Love in the Truth.

Dug Down Deep

As of right now, I have a new favourite book of 2010 ~ Dug Down Deep, by Josh Harris. It is somewhat hard to categorize this book. It's part systematic theology, and part autobiography. "This book is the story of how I learned to dig into truth and build my life on a real knowledge of God" writes Harris. One thing for me is clear however, the book is good - really good. Seriously, how could you not want to read more of a book that begins with the sentence, "It's strange to see an Amish girl drunk."

Harris begins by telling us that "We're all theologians. The question is whether what we know about God is true." He then asks another question; "What would I build my life on?" These are the questions behind the two opening chapters and they set the foundation of the chapters that follow. Each of which covers and defines a certain point of doctrine through the eyes of Harris himself.

There is a very personal tone in the book that draws the reader in simply because we've all been there or may still be there longing for more. A longing that can lead to a feeling-driven faith where we cast aside the very thing we need - theology - because we don't think we need it. A common reaction today when we hear the words doctrine, theology, and orthodoxy is to simply shut down and have a "just gimme Jesus" attitude. "The irony of this approach to Jesus is that ultimately it produces the opposite of what we actually want." We are reminded that, "Jesus never asks us how we feel about him. He calls us to believe in him, to trust him...In other words, he's in charge."

Harris points out that, “Doctrine can never take the place of Jesus himself, but we can’t know him and relate to him in the right way without doctrine” (pg. 31). That is true. But, by the time we get to page 31 and read it, we don't think this is just another one of the "frozen chosen" preaching to us. The beauty of Dug Down Deep is found in the subtitle - "Unearthing what I Believe and Why It Matters." The "I" is a humble, transparent Josh Harris sharing his journey with Jesus.

It is one thing to point out all the problems that plague the Church both individually and corporately. It's another thing altogether to first and foremost realize that you're one of them! To do so takes humility and grace; Harris displays both on every page. His love for Christ, the Church, and the gospel are clearly evident. The message I heard loud and clear from cover to cover was follow me as I follow Christ or to put it another way, "Don't measure yourself by what you know. Measure yourself by your practice of what you know".

This is a book I needed 10 years ago. It's a book I needed today, and no doubt I will need its message 10 years from now. As a pastor, I would say that Dug Down Deep should be required reading for every Christian. As a father, I can honestly say that I have yet to come across a better book to give to my soon-to-be teenage son to read on why "seemingly worn-out words like theology, doctrine, and orthodoxy {are} the pathway to the mysterious, awe-filled experience of truly knowing the living Jesus Christ."

Love in the Truth.

Contentment

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

I've been studying the 23rd Psalm lately. Beginning this coming Sunday, I will be preaching from it for the three weeks leading to Easter. During my study, I often enjoy reading from The Valley of Vision. I found this prayer to be quite fitting today...

CONTENTMENT

Heavenly Father,

If I should suffer need, and go unclothed,

and be in poverty,

make my heart prize thy love,

know it, be constrained by it,

though I be denied all blessings.

It is thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants,

for by these trials, I see my sins,

and desire severance from them.

Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows,

temptations,

if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil,

and be delivered from it with gratitude to thee,

acknowledging this as the highest testimony

of thy love.

When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul

instead of sin, he became more dear to me

than sin had formerly been;

his kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny.

Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin

subdued

I must not only labour to overcome it,

but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it,

and he must become to me more than

vile lust had been;

that his sweetness, power, life may be there.

Thus I must seek a grace from him contrary to sin,

but must not claim it apart from himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come,

comfort me by showing me

that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch,

but in Christ I am reconciled and live;

that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest,

but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace;

that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good,

but in Christ I have ability to do all things.

Though now I have this grace in part,

I shall shortly have them perfectly

in that state where thou wilt show thyself

fully reconciled,

and alone sufficient, efficient,

loving my completely,

with sin abolished.

O Lord, hasten that day.

Love in the Truth.