The Manhattan Declaration

Today, I became the 78,919th person to sign the Manhattan Declaration.

I cannot significantly enough describe how critical and timely this document is. We live in a time of moral upheavel in regards to the three issues the document addresses. If the church does not take a stand for the
1.)sanctity of human life,
2.)the dignity of marriage, and
3.)the right to religious liberty,
then it has abandoned the teachings of our Lord Jesus and is no longer fit to be the precious bride he will call to himself.

This country is trying to pass laws that require YOU to pay for abortion, laws that require you to bless homosexual unions, and laws that will silence your religious establishment if you refuse to adhere.

When these laws are passed, will you be the victims of injustice or the doers of injustice? Are you willing to go to prison for your moral convictions? What does being a follower of Jesus mean in this country when persecution arrives at our doorstep?

The first 150 people who signed this document are the major religious leaders from every branch of Christianity. I have heard that every seminary in the United States has signed the document, with the exception of one. If this isn't enough, read the last paragraph from the document (emphasis added):

"Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's."

You can read and sign the document here: The Manhattan Declaration.org.

Music Worth Checking Out #FIVE

Keith Green
1953-1982
Recording years 1976-1982
(Worship/Singer-songwriter/Lyrical)

I'm sure many of you have heard of mainstream contemporary Christian artists like Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St James, and Chris Tomlin, but it's doubtful the name Keith Green has ever come to mind when you think "CCM."

Keith Green arose from rough background, but eventually was born in Christ and started a local ministry with his wife for drug adicts, alcoholics, and prostitutes.

He released several albums in the 70's and early 80s under the "contemporary Christian" genre. However, it is hard to lable him thusly because many of his works contain far more talent and sincerity than the rush of commercialized CCM artists that followed him.

Suggested Tracks: Oh Lord You're Beautiful, There is a Redeemer, Easter Song
Listen for free here.

Time for a new Bible?

The ESV Study Bible is the best Bible I have ever owned.

To the right, you can order the ESV study Bible for half its value on Amazon. Below, John Piper explains why you should own a more literal, scholarly, and accurate translation.

The English Standard Version is built off of the original 1611 King James Version - the closest readable literal translation the English language can provide. It is written at a 10th-12th grade reading level (compared to the NIV which is 7th-8th grade reading level). Many of you are still reading a translation that is meant for young or international readers.

The ESV Study Bible contains color charts and pictures, scholarly articles on theology and commentary, cross references, study notes, and much more. I highly recommend the ESV translation, and this is by far the most comprehensive ESV study Bible available.

"I'll take your Jesus if the payoff is right!"

A video by indie filmmaker and director Nathan Clarke of Fourth Line Films and produced by The Global Conversation on the effects of the prosperity gospel where it is currently being tought.

Blog title quoted from "You Will Suffer" by John Piper

(HT ERC Pastor's Blog)

Tools for the Great ComMission #FOUR

Some quotes regarding missions by famous individuals:

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.”
-John Keith Falconer

“No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.”
-Owald J. Smith

“We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”
-Oswald J. Smith

“He is not seeking a powerful people to represent HIM. Rather, He looks for all those who are weak, foolish, despised, and written off: and He inhabits them with His own strength.”
-Graham Cooke

“While vast continents are shrouded in darkness… the burden of proof lies upon you to show that the circumstances in which God has placed you were meant by God to keep you out of the foreign mission field.”
-John Keith-Falconer

“If God has fit you to be a missionary, I would not have you shrivel down to be a king.”
-Charles Spurgeon

“Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ.”
-Francis Xavier

“God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.”
-Hudson Taylor

(HT dEADseed) (Thanks Cody!)

Music Worth Checking Out #FOUR

I Am Undone
My Epic
(Indie/Experimental/Dynamic/Worship/Prayerful)



Everything about this album makes my heart move. This is another album meant to be a whole rather than individual parts.

Track one is a prologue to the rest of the album. Soft strings and a rhodes carries on a simple pad while the band recites, "May it be the real I who speaks, May it be the real Thou that I speak to," from C.S. Lewis. It sets the stage and the mood as something mature, deeply personal, and with complete reverence to the Father.

"The Oil Press" connects the prologue to the "meat" of the album. Lead singer Aaron Stone sings "Where else would I go, with every mercy you have shown? I'm fearing this harvest I have sown. And my time is so short, so please make it yours."

"Lest We Die" speaks of every man's battle with with himself. The ending swells with "I did not pour out these tides or tell these planets to align. My breath could never give new life, so why am I so full of pride!" into a soaring instrumental climax.

"The Lover And The Thief" seems to be dedicated to a lost loved one. An emotional, pulsing rhythm tells of a boy's pain with losing someone he loved. The chorus comes in with a beautiful, heartbreaking atmospheric choir and he questions God's reasoning behind it all, "I don't think you're aware just how much this damages my faith." The second half of the song is the Father's glorious response. "I'm wrecking you to help you see: you're not who you should be ... She followed me, that's why you weep. It's me you need!"

"Perelandra" is an instrumental track that seems to be a continuation of the prior track, allowing you to contemplate on God. Bits of this track are used in 3 other tracks later on in the album, making this the "binding."

"You Know We All Love you" starts off heavy. "You'll paint this town black with the laws that you craft. Then turn it all red with the fires they set," speaking of His judgement to awful sinners. Then the chorus only happens once with a powerful message, "The fire's in your house! There's no time left to sort this out. All of us are guilty men, there is no line between us and them," speaking that we are all just as guilty. The heavy instrumental section repeats and ushers in a hard and sharp, "Fear! Fear and trembling, brothers!"

"Our Little Girl" is a complicated track. The CD booklet says it is based on a short story called "The Painting." My interpritation points to guilty burden of rushed infatuation, perhaps a man cheating on his wife and later trying to tell her. The song speaks of a fruit that's so tempting "it just wants to let go," but "it swells with a poison that used to be love." Then perhaps these lyrics describe the actions of lust "small betrayals and these orphaned deeds unattached to love." Then the consequence, "This will destroy you and I will stand like a stranger." The most poignant line in the song is: "so I lay in this bed beside your body, but miles of words and deeds lie in between. And should we brave that space to find each other, We'd have to meet the ghosts of our conceit." The song ends with a crashing breakdown, perhaps signifying that very burden.

"Men In Little Houses" is my favorite track. The song starts of heavy. The lyrics point to the ignorance of men at first, "modern man is so adept at skimming past the ocean's depths." Then my favorite riff in the whole album comes in with, "We can't feel the spinning underneath. This globe rotates and no one perceives." Then the best lines come in, "this is where we lie, someplace between the matter and the mystified ... what if all our lives are founded in the moments that escape our eyes? We are so small!"

"Communion" relates the relationship between men and God to lovers. A peaceful verse brings in a definate chorus, "I'm told that You hold all things, and without you that I'd cease to be." Afterwards, very beautiful lines bring in the title phrase of the album: "A cup, a candle, and this bread, a table for rememberence. The quiet awe of penitence, the still refrain of broken men." The music starts to pick up and then, "In this moment weakness speaks, I feel the weight of my being. For the moment you release the particles in everything. I am undone." This song makes me think of brokeness, and afterward having communion or meeting with Christ as he completely undoes you.

"You Became I" tells of man's drifting from God to other masters and idols. "I've been shifting my affection to whatever love may call my name." The chorus brings in, "All creation waits, aching for the day. There is no escape from what the author fates." The end starts to bring in some hope, "We've been living in shadows, soon exposed to the light..." Then after the song has seemed to have ended, a little voice brings, "fault will find us all in guilty lives, only mercy can a hope provide." He continues very softly with "return, repent before deep heaven falls upon our heads." Then a crashing riff comes in and repeats, representing the end.

Track 11 is untitled and simply labled "-". This is the most worshipful song on the album. A simple guitar line cradles words of humility and complete submission to the Father, "My God, I am not, but you are." The song ends powerfully with the same lines, giving God all of the glory.

Album lyrics at Bands on Fire.
Listen to the whole album on Myspace.

Tools for the Great ComMission #THREE

"The promise is sure. The price is suffering. The prize is satisfying."

This is absolutely the most inspiring, passionate message given on missions I have ever heard. John Piper speaks on what Christ really meant we he told us to "go and make disciples of all nations;" at any cost.

This message was given to college-aged students to inspire and empower them to truly suffer for the cause of Christ. This message will not be accepted by more mainstream, contemporary Evangelicals. However, consider Jesus' words: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

If you have the call to frontier missions, then this message will resonate with what Christ is doing in your heart. You will be moved.

Doing Missions When Dying Is Gain(audio) by John Piper
Written transcript here.

Thank You, Lord

"Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth's gratitude rises when the sun of heaven's love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart." - C. H. Spurgeon, Morning&Evening