Life's too short for small talk,
So don't be talking trivia now.
Excess baggage fills this plane:
There's more than we should ever allow.
There's engines stalling and good men falling,
But I ain't crawling away.
I just wanna know--am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to You.
I just wanna stay angry at the evil.
I just wanna be hungry for the true.
Folks play follow the leader,
But who's the leader gonna obey?
Will his head get big when the toes get tapping?
I just wanna know are they catching what I say?
I'm a little too young to introspect
And I surely haven't paid all my dues,
but there's death traps lying in those woods,
Most of 'em already been used!
I just wanna know--am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to You.
I just wanna stay angry at the evil.
I just wanna be hungry for the true.
Search me, Father, and know my heart;
Try me and know my mind.
And if there be any wicked way in me,
Pull me to the rock that is higher than I.
I just wanna know--am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to You.
I just wanna stay angry at the evil.
I just wanna be hungry for the true.
_________________________________
Jesus open my eyes
To what you would want me to be.
Make me worthy to carry your name,
Though the world may put me to shame
Give me love in my heart
For those who hurt me, make me cry,
For they’re the reason why you died
And it was you who first loved me.
Give me a smile, make me happy all the while,
And give me the strength to see it through.
And give me success if you feel I should be blessed,
I want to give it all to you.
I want to give it all to you.
Jesus open my eyes...
_________________________________
After all the things that you have shown me,
I'd be a fool to let them slip away
In doing things I know I shouldn't do.
But I don't want to fall away from you,
From you.
After all,
I've only grieved Your spirit,
And then I don't know why You stay with me.
But every time I fall, Your love comes through,
And I don't want to fall away from You.
When the light is gone
And good times are getting old,
There's no one left to count on
And all my friends are cold:
When I thirst for love, oh Lord,
You're a fountain to my soul
My soul
My soul Oh Lord
My soul
In a way my life is full of burdens,
But in a way You carry them from me,
Jesus.
'Cause no one understands the way You do.
And you know Lord,
I don't want to fall away from You.
Well every day I pray to start anew,
'Cause I don't want to fall away from You.
No Lord
I don't wanna fall away from You
No Lord
I don't wanna fall away from You
From You...Lord
_________________________________
[Thanks to Steve Taylor, Dave Mattson, and Keith Green for putting into words what I could never say so well.]
Friday, October 3, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Guideline
Having resolved to quit every activity that does not work godliness, I am now continually faced with an evaluative process. To be precise, I must determine in each case whether that activity works godliness or not.
The question then becomes: How do I know if something works godliness or not? What guidelines can I have in place to evaluate my activities against? In other words, I need a way to say "This is not okay because..."
What is it that pushes an activity "over the edge," so to speak, from acceptable and godly to a state where it is not advancing the work of God?
I can set a standard for myself (and have), of certain things that I refuse to do -- but without an absolute principle behind it, the set of rules is really meaningless. The key is to find the principle; once the principle is made plain, I can then take it and apply it to whatever situation I find myself in.
The question then becomes: How do I know if something works godliness or not? What guidelines can I have in place to evaluate my activities against? In other words, I need a way to say "This is not okay because..."
What is it that pushes an activity "over the edge," so to speak, from acceptable and godly to a state where it is not advancing the work of God?
I can set a standard for myself (and have), of certain things that I refuse to do -- but without an absolute principle behind it, the set of rules is really meaningless. The key is to find the principle; once the principle is made plain, I can then take it and apply it to whatever situation I find myself in.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sermon Topics
I have been wondering over the last few days about the ministry of preaching the Word of God. How does a pastor, evangelist, preacher, or teacher choose a sermon topic? How do you select the passage of scripture or subject to expound, especially week after week?
I think I understand the mechanics of how to preach or teach on a given section, but how do I choose which topic to deliver?
I think I understand the mechanics of how to preach or teach on a given section, but how do I choose which topic to deliver?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sorry
When I was young, well, younger, after I had done something wrong, Mom would make me apologize. Often, in order to emphasize the attitude changes that should be occurring, she would ask, "What does 'sorry' mean?" So there was no mistake, she would tell us: "'Sorry' means that you don't do it again."
I think it works the same way with God. When we come to our senses and realize how much wrong we have done God by disobeying Him, we have to apologize, both to Him and to the people we have been ungodly towards. We tend to want to say it in more words, but essentially what we say is "God, I'm sorry."
My question is, are we sorry? Do we really give up what we were doing before, never to do it again? If we are, there should be a definite and distinct difference in both our attitude and our actions. When we are sorry, our outlook shifts from our own justification to being focused on what is right for the other person; our actions also reflect this -- we are willing to repay (when before we weren't), we place ourselves at their mercy (so they can exact whatever will propitiate them), etc.
Is this how we are toward God, letting Him take whatever He wants? How are we toward others? Do we take what we think is fair, or do we put their happiness first?
I think it works the same way with God. When we come to our senses and realize how much wrong we have done God by disobeying Him, we have to apologize, both to Him and to the people we have been ungodly towards. We tend to want to say it in more words, but essentially what we say is "God, I'm sorry."
My question is, are we sorry? Do we really give up what we were doing before, never to do it again? If we are, there should be a definite and distinct difference in both our attitude and our actions. When we are sorry, our outlook shifts from our own justification to being focused on what is right for the other person; our actions also reflect this -- we are willing to repay (when before we weren't), we place ourselves at their mercy (so they can exact whatever will propitiate them), etc.
Is this how we are toward God, letting Him take whatever He wants? How are we toward others? Do we take what we think is fair, or do we put their happiness first?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Spots
"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." -- II Peter 3:14
If we are to be found without spot, what must we do? First, and most obvious I think, is that every individual who is looking "for such things" must give all diligence to "do these things" that Peter outlines in the first chapter (in verses 5-11).
Second, however, Peter also points out that there is a larger sense in which we must beware of (and thus also take care to eliminate) spots. He says, speaking of false teachers and their followers: "spots they are, and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you..." (II Peter 2:13)
So, in a corporate sense, as the body and bride of Christ, we must take great care to be alert to the existence and/or entrance of such people into the church -- and then remove them from the body. Thus, He may "present [us] to himself a glorious church, not having any spot or wrinkle, or any such thing." (Ephesians 5:27)
If we are to be found without spot, what must we do? First, and most obvious I think, is that every individual who is looking "for such things" must give all diligence to "do these things" that Peter outlines in the first chapter (in verses 5-11).
Second, however, Peter also points out that there is a larger sense in which we must beware of (and thus also take care to eliminate) spots. He says, speaking of false teachers and their followers: "spots they are, and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you..." (II Peter 2:13)
So, in a corporate sense, as the body and bride of Christ, we must take great care to be alert to the existence and/or entrance of such people into the church -- and then remove them from the body. Thus, He may "present [us] to himself a glorious church, not having any spot or wrinkle, or any such thing." (Ephesians 5:27)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Fire!
Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire!
Thy Blood-bought gift today we claim,
Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost,
Send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire!
'Tis fire we want, for fire we plead,
Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need,
Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white,
Send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save
Send the fire!
O see us on Thy altar lay,
Our lives, our all, this very day,
To crown the offering now we pray,
Send the fire!
--William Booth
______________________________
Lord,
Whether you send the fire or not, I will serve You. But oh, see these around us, who need to be drawn to the fire, to be cleansed by the fire, and to be set on with the fire for You. Send the fire, Lord Jesus!
Send the fire!
Thy Blood-bought gift today we claim,
Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost,
Send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire!
'Tis fire we want, for fire we plead,
Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need,
Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white,
Send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save
Send the fire!
O see us on Thy altar lay,
Our lives, our all, this very day,
To crown the offering now we pray,
Send the fire!
--William Booth
______________________________
Lord,
Whether you send the fire or not, I will serve You. But oh, see these around us, who need to be drawn to the fire, to be cleansed by the fire, and to be set on with the fire for You. Send the fire, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Act II
No, it's not popcorn...
My second "official" act under my resolution was to purchase a notebook -- I'm keeping a log of the things that I do for a whole week, so as to better be aware of the activities that I spend my time on. By Saturday, I will have a week's worth of notes, which I will then review and see what needs to be changed, added, or removed from my life.
Also, I would like to know, along the same lines as I asked regarding Facebook: For those of you who talk to me online, what has my conversation been on instant messenger (whether it is Facebook chat or MSN Messenger)? Am I really being useful, or do I just make interesting conversation? Do I "provoke to love and good works," or do I talk about whatever is interesting at the moment?
My second "official" act under my resolution was to purchase a notebook -- I'm keeping a log of the things that I do for a whole week, so as to better be aware of the activities that I spend my time on. By Saturday, I will have a week's worth of notes, which I will then review and see what needs to be changed, added, or removed from my life.
Also, I would like to know, along the same lines as I asked regarding Facebook: For those of you who talk to me online, what has my conversation been on instant messenger (whether it is Facebook chat or MSN Messenger)? Am I really being useful, or do I just make interesting conversation? Do I "provoke to love and good works," or do I talk about whatever is interesting at the moment?
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