God's Grace in the Old Testament

There are many places in the Old Testament where God reveals His grace.

Stories like the creation, the flood, the Exodus, Ruth, David, and Solomon are all examples of God's saving power among those who did not deserve it. These stories are testaments of both His grace then and displays of His grace to come in Christ.

The following is a psalm of David that has been one of the most important texts for me on repentance and God's grace to me.

Psalm 32

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

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

The Prosperity Gospel

John Piper speaks on the prosperity gospel. The background music is "Sanctitatis" by Future of Forestry (Twilight album). Thanks to Pastor Mark for introducing me to this video. It really shines a light on how Christ uses brokenness to spread the gospel, not rewards. He wants laborers who are willing to suffer as he suffered, and take delight in him alone, not worldly pleasures. A powerful reminder...

The Prodigal Son and the Older Brother in America

I was driving to work yesterday at 6:30AM when I decided to turn on the radio. It happened to be on CSN Radio and a segment from Norm Nelson's Compassion Radio was playing. Norm was interviewing a man named Brian, a former member of the Mafia in New York; a drug runner. Brian accepted Christ when a woman, unafraid of his rough exterior, presented the gospel to him. I tracked down the radio program and put up a link. This isn't your average "bad man turns to Jesus" story. It's a lot closer to the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. "'... and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’" -Lk 15:23, 24 The father rejoices when the lost son comes home, and the older brother who remained at home did not cause rejoicing. "... he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’" -Lk 15:29, 30 Jesus used this parable to illustrate 2 things. 1.) All of Heaven rejoices when a lost son is found. The Father receives him with open arms. 2.) The "older brother," "pharisee," or "Christian-on-the-outside" is in a much more dangerous position than the vilest offender who accepts Christ. When Brian was interviewed, he was quick to tell of his former life in darkness and how he needed Jesus as LORD (not just savior), but he also pointed out the "older brother" in America: the sea of churches full of unrepentant "Christians" just looking for a "savior," or just the benefits of a savior. Please, please, please listen to the radio program. I cried in my car after the program was over, not because the story of his conversion was emotional, but because I had been convicted by an ex-mafia drug-runner, a better Christian than I. The program can be found here: http://broadcast.compassionradio.com/cr20091027-tue.mp3

Music Worth Checking Out #THREE

I Am Living Vol. 1

Come&Live! Records

(Various Artists/Worship)

(Taken from Cross Rhythms)

"A RADICAL new Christian record label has been established in the USA. At the start of this year Chad Johnson left his position as head of A&R at Seattle's Tooth & Nail Records where he had discovered and developed Underoath, Anberlin and Mae to establish "missionary record label" Come&Live! Records. The label will depend on missionary-style fundraising for survival (artist and staff members will be raising their own support). Come&Live! will be giving 100 per cent of their profits to humanitarian and missions organizations and will package exclusively with recycled materials..."

The label's first sample collection I Am Living Vol. 1 is available for free download at their website (click the image). You will find a range of styles from indie to pop to electronic to hardcore, all within the context of worship. I downloaded this album and couldn't stop listening to it for days. -KG

Suggested tracks: "Awakening," "Sing," "Run to You"

Tools for the Great ComMission #TWO

Know the state of the world.

According to The Joshua Project, there are 6,639 unreached people groups in the world today. The 2,700,000,000 (that's BILLION) people in those 6,639 unreached people groups have an Evangelical population that is less than 2% or non-existent.

He told us: "go" (Mt 28:19).

This video does a good job at trying to put that into perspective. The music is "Tears from the Saints" by Leeland and "What A Friend I've Found" by Delirious?. The speaker is John Piper.



Thanks to Pastor Mark for introducing me to this video.

S.H.I.F.T. Corn Maze Event!

S.H.I.F.T. will be going to the Dan-D Farms Haunted Corn Maze this Friday, October 30th. Youth are to meet at the church at 6:15PM. We will leave around 6:30PM. We should be back at the church around 9:30PM.

Please dress WARM. -KG

Is Jesus the Only Way to God?

Relevant Magazine has very good article as a response to the rise of universalism. A surprising number of Americans believe that God is the same in all religions; that you can inherit eternal life whether you pray to Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Buddha, The Tao, Brahman, your ancestors, or Jesus.

(Click the image to view the article -->)

Do you know someone who belongs to a different religion? Have you ever neglected to talk to them about Jesus because you were afraid of hurting their feelings or loosing them as a friend? Did that eventually lead you to decide "God could not be so cruel as to send non-Christians who pray to 'God' to eternal torment, could he??"

Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Peter says in Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

No other name. Where do the names Buddha, Yahweh (non-trinitarian), Brahman, Jehovah (non-trinitarian), and Allah (non-trinitarian) lead to? Where does their way go? This is not a friendly, feel-good, include-everyone, philanthropist kind of message, is it?

This is the Gospel (good news). Wait! Good news??

Yes, it is good news. Hell is real, and you and I are deserving of it. Jesus came to fufill the law of God because we could not. He is a savior to all who believe. Anyone who does not believe and call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will not be saved. This is not something you want to hold back from that someone-you-know. -KG

Read the article here.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:13

Music Worth Checking Out #TWO

Travel

Future of Forestry

(Indie/Worship/Experimental/Prayerful)

Future of Forestry front man/songwriter Eric Owyoung has a unique passion and talent for melding worshipful, prayerful music with creative, and sometimes innovative works of art.

Their third album (and first in a 3 part Travel series) Travel stands out from from former album Twilight. Lyrically mature and sincere, musically spellbinding and enchanting; there's a diversity of instruments and style on this album that, when added to Eric's heartfelt and honest praise, really enables one to marvel at God, and worship him in a new but no less revering light. -KG

Suggested Tracks: Closer to Me and Halleluiah

Listen to the whole album on myspace.

Doing things my own way

"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect." -John Owen

Music Worth Checking Out #ONE

Things We Can See & Things We Cannot
So Long Forgotten
(Indie/Experimental/Conceptual/Prayerful)

I'll say this right away: This album is not for everybody. It's written and put together in such a way that it is meant to be listened to as a whole rather than individual pieces.

Singer/songwriter Micah Boyce's vocals and lyrics are artistic, intense, soulful, and incredibly subjectively objective. This is to say that he tends to be more passionate than some will be comfortable with. Nevertheless, there is a beauty and praise found in this album underneath it's sometimes painful honesty. When Micah screams "Yours was everything I could and could not see! Yours was everything!" things will start to come together, and your hair will stand on end. -KG

(The following taken from Bands On Fire.)

"Chad Johnson, the former head A&R at Tooth & Nail Records, who was responsible for introducing the world to Underoath, Anberlin and Mae, ... laid out a very bold, very blunt offer. Walk away from a lucrative record deal, and join his “Come&Live!” venture, a new record label where all the music is released through a free/pay what you want model.

While most bands would have slammed the door in Johnson’s face, and grabbed the biggest signing bonus possible, So Long Forgotten found the idea to be right in line with their mission. “Our band has always put servanthood first,” Micah says. “So many bands just exist to feed the Christian subculture monster. Instead of being a light in a dark place, Christianity becomes their genre. I think "Christian” is a much better noun than an adjective. Come&Live! pushes us to be ‘noun Christians.’ We’re not going to make a lot of money at this. It’s humbling, and it forces us to be out there where God can use this band.”

Album lyrics: here.
Free album download: here.

Tools for the Great ComMission #ONE

Every so often I will put up resources for all you who are considering the call of missions.

This is taken from the book Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper.

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever."

S.H.I.F.T. is going to Onething'09 at IHOP

My youth group, S.H.I.F.T, is going to IHOP this December for the Onething'09 Conference. We will be raising money this year with croissant sales, soup suppers, and other fund raisers. Please contact me if you would like to support us. Click the banner on the right for more info.

Jesus Died - Paul Washer

A powerful video from http://www.illbehonest.com/. Paul Washer frequently focuses on the gospel and what it means to be saved and live in obedience.

The Exodus Conspiracy, 2010

A documentary featuring the search for the true Exodus path, Red Sea crossing, and Mt. Sinai (not the traditional or tourized ones). This movie is set to be released sometime in 2010. A lot of the movie focuses on how tourism is banned in Saudi Arabia, and how research and excavation in regards to the Old Testament are prohibited just about everywhere (sometimes violently). Here is a trailer:



Movie website: http://www.exodusconspiracy.com/

The Findings of the Late Ron Wyatt

~You may not have heard of this man. This is because his findings and discoveries have been covered up, disregarded, and dismissed by both scientists and most Christians.

Ron Wyatt has documented his findings from the 1970's to late 1990's of what he believes to be:
1.) Noah's Ark
2.) Soddom & Gomorrah
3.) The Red Sea Crossing
4.) Mt. Sinai
5.) The Ark of the Covenant with Jesus' blood.

Some of these claims may seem a bit fantastical. However, consider the evidence for yourself at his website: http://www.wyattmuseum.com/.

Further support comes from this video series:
Exodus and Red Sea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJXUv_btg60.
Noah's Ark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y5ORpMTebI&feature=related
The narration is done by his wife.

Wikipedia is inaccurate. Read this FAQ: http://www.webspawner.com/users/ronwyattfaq/index.html.

Christian oriented versions of the tellings of his findings can be found here: http://www.wyattarchaeology.com/

I am personally convinced that his findings are true, by both the evidence and his character. Choosing whether or not to believe in these specific discoveries as the true locations does not affect your salvation. However, it might give cause to marvel.