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.

CD Review: Caleb & Sol ~ "Afloat"

Every once in a while a CD comes along that just makes you...well...worship. The songs and the message are so good that you can almost feel them...if that makes any sense at all. For the music lovers out there - you know what I mean! But more than that, you are drawn closer to God. That's the mark of great music to me. It's purpose is to bring you so close to God in worship that the music itself fades and your joy in the moment is CHRIST and His glorious gospel.

Well, "Afloat", by Caleb & Sol does just that! The music is original, and the lyrics are God-honoring. In a world of "been there - done that - bought the t-shirt" redundant dribble that exists in "Christian" music, "Afloat" doesn't sink (pardon the pun); it rises above. I literally could go on and on about every song...but I won't! I will simply tell you that you can get the entire CD at no cost at noisetrade. You really can't beat that! If you do like it - and you will - can I suggest that you support the artist by going to itunes to buy it. Even though you can get it for free, this one is definitely worth the 10 bucks!

If you still need some help deciding, here's a sample to view:

And this is my favourite for one reason...it's the Gospel!



In MHO, this is a must have. As I said earlier, it leads me to worship. And that is the highest endorsement I could give.

Love in the Truth.

Love Your Neighbour!

So...there has been a lot of "chirping" going back and forth between Canadians and Americans lately. Especially in light of the Olympic games, and in particular, a hockey game this past Sunday evening. As we all know, we (Canada) lost. Let me say up front, I hate to lose! Here's the thing though, why are there so many of us - on both sides of the border - hating each other? I really, really, don't get it. Seriously, help me out? I know first hand that there are plenty of "friends" south of the border who are completely ignorant to "the True North Strong and Free". And I know that Canada is the brunt of many a joke coming from the "good 'ol U.S. of A." That said, I also know it goes both ways! We in Canada - so seemingly proud of our honesty - need to be honest and admit that we are just as bad. At least I am...sometimes...curse you Ryan Miller!

I know we all know this, so why don't we act like it. We are neighbours, brothers, sisters, and friends...let's act like it!

I love Canada. I am proud to be a Canadian, and I thank the Lord for it every day. I can also say, that I love the United States - not a big fan of your current president - but love you none-the-less!

Kind of a random post, I know - but I just had to say it. And as for the hockey game...Canadians...settle down, we actually dominated and we still lost - it happens!

Love in the Truth.

Quotable 9

"It wasn’t too long ago that I wrote about Brian McLaren and got in trouble. Reflecting on seeing him speak at a nearby church, I suggested that he appears to love Jesus but hate God. Based on immediate and furious reaction, I quickly retracted that statement. I should not have done so. I believed it then and I believe it now. And if it was true then, how much more true is it upon the release of his latest tome A New Kind of Christianity. In this book we finally see where McLaren’s journey has taken him; it has taken him into outright, rank, unapologetic apostasy. He hates God. Period." ~ Tim Challies

WOW! If you thought that was something, you can read the full article. I can almost picture Challies tearing his clothes as he finished reading!

For the record - I agree with Tim.

Love in the Truth.

As The Hour Draws Near

Part one:


Part two:


Which one are you?

Love in the Truth.

Definite Atonement via Lyrical Theology

Love in the Truth.