A little fun in the snow with Bailey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUL0KCIc48

Rick Warren: "we" should "take out" the Iranian president

 

Warren uses Romans 13 as his precedent.

 

I was uneasy about this as soon as I heard about it last week. I couldn’t get comfortable with this and couldn’t find the organized thoughts to make how I felt about this jell. Rick Davis to the rescue.

 

Rick Davis is an acquaintance who pastors Brock Baptist Church, Brock, Texas (update). Rick is running a series of posts organized around Advent. In today’s post, he addresses Warren and the aforementioned statement.

 

Rick said, “He is wrong religiously. Romans 13 sanctioned an all-powerful, non-Christian government that did evil in the eyes of God as a matter of routine. The Roman government was not going to last. The Kingdom of God was going to continue.”

 

Wow! That is what I was searching for, but he didn’t stop there.

 

“He is wrong as a matter of law. In a state of war, would we have hesitated to kill a Stalin, a Hitler or a Mussolini? The difference in those situations is apparent. We are not yet at war with Iran

He is wrong demographically. Will Iran soon run out of two-bit dictators who aggrandize themselves by America-hating?

 He is wrong geo-politically. As a policy, murder has its echoes. You can still hear them in Dealey Plaza.”

I commend Rick’s entire post to you.

http://aintsobad.typepad.com/aintsobad/2008/12/advent-in-an-age-of-uncertaintydecember-10-2008.html

 

 

 

Aintsobad Advent - Day 2

http://aintsobad.typepad.com/aintsobad/2008/12/advent-the-age-of-uncertainty.html

 

 

A really different Advent Calendar

Here is a link to the Boston Globe’s Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar

 

Unique does not really describe it. It certainly is starting off as a tour de force of God’s Creation!

 

You’ve gotta click through…

 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/hubble_space_telescope_advent.html

 

 

Gary

 

 

Rick Davis begins Advent postings

Dr. Davis’ December 1 post excerpt:

 

The God of Scripture (Christian) is incapable of evil. God can neither do evil nor tempt man to do evil. God rejects temptation in all its forms. God is not capricious in thought or action. In short, God is not human, though God is indeed personal and real.

God is light and love; illumination and affection. The nature of God being eternally settled, God is able to act thoughtfully, to sacrifice fully, even to understand.

That is, God gets us. God knows, sees, hears, comprehends deeply. God loves anyway because it is in the nature of God to love.

Entire post at http://aintsobad.typepad.com/aintsobad/2008/12/advent-into-an-age-of-uncertainty.html

 

Gary

 

 

Victor Wooten - Bassist

Oh. Wow.

Bob Cleveland at his blog, Eagle's Rest, posted a link to this Amazing video.

Victor Wooten - Amazing Grace.

Wow.

Sometimes a Light Surprises

I’ve got a Pastor friend (Rick Davis, FBC, Brownwood, Texas) who I stumbled on while searching for a long-lost evangelist buddy of mine. I’ve shared prayer requests for him while he was going through some pretty rough diagnosis and surgery a couple of months back.

 

He posted Thursday about a very emotional day which he had which just kept coming up with one surprise after another. He shared first a story of a pastor friend whose father had passed away. Rick had lead the father to the Lord. He was reminded that he had done so and was overwhelmed. Same day, he met a person who watches Brownwood’s services on the Internet. He was so impressed by a sermon, which he had quoted portions of back to Rick, that he first established a benefit for a young girl with cancer and then extended that charity to evangelistic outreach. Still the same day, he met a young woman who because of chemo-therapy was wearing a bandana. She share about her cancer, her treatments, and hopes. As they parted, she said, “"If something happens, I need you to come back and do my funeral. Promise me you will."

 

Rick said that again, he was overcome with emotion.

 

You can read the entire post here: http://aintsobad.typepad.com/aintsobad/2008/04/this-has-been-a.html

 

I also commend Rick’s blog to you. Warning: it will make you think about your relationship to Christ.

 

There have been many things occur in my life which were unexpected. Some good, some bad, some I’m still unsure about. But many of the good things are those which God snuck around the corner and said ‘GOTCHA!’.

 

I went to search for the old, old hymn, “Sometimes a Light Surprises” by William Cowper. This one is really old – 1779. And to me, really special. If you look beyond just the words, the touch of the Spirit is woven in every verse.

 

Sometimes a Light Surprises – William Cowper

Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord, who rises with healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation we sweetly then pursue
The theme of God’s salvation, and find it ever new.
Set free from present sorrow, we cheerfully can say,
Let the unknown tomorrow bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing but He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing will clothe His people, too;
Beneath the spreading heavens, no creature but is fed;
And He Who feeds the ravens will give His children bread.

Though vine nor fig tree neither their wonted fruit should bear,
Though all the field should wither, nor flocks nor herds be there;
Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice,
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice.

See you Sunday…

Simple Song (from 'Mass")

Text by Stephen Schwartz based on Psalm 121. Leonard Bernstein used this text to craft the only memorable composition, to me at least, from his Mass published in 1971. There’s a Wikipedia entry for this composition ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(theatre) ).

 

I may sing this someday soon:

 

 

Sing God a simple song: Lauda, Laude.

Make it up as you go along: Lauda, Laude.

Sing like you like to sing.

God loves all simple things, For God is the simplest of all.

I will sing the Lord a new song to praise Him,

to bless Him, to bless the Lord.

I will sing His praises while I live, all of my days.

Blessed is the man who loves the Lord, who praises Him,

Lauda, Laude, and walks in His ways.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help.

I will lift up my voice to the Lord singing, Lauda, Laude.

For the Lord is the shade upon my right hand, and the sun shall

not smite me by day, nor the moon by night.

          —Stephen Schwartz based on Psalm 121

The Majesty and Glory of Your Name

Thank you Shannon and Nita for playing this last week!

 

These are the lyrics you’ve never heard if you just read the hymnal:

 

When I gaze into the night skies
And see the work of Your fingers
The moon and stars suspended in space
What is man that You are mindful of him
You have given man a crown of glory and honor
And have made him a little lower than the angels
You have put him in charge of all creation
The beasts of the field
The birds of the air
The fish of the sea
But what is man
Oh what is man that You are mindful of him

O Lord our God
The majesty and glory of Your name
Transcends the earth
And fills the heavens
O Lord our God
Little children praise You perfectly
And so would we and so would we

 

Alleluia alleluia
The majesty and glory of Your name
Alleluia alleluia
The majesty and glory of Your name
Alleluia alleluia
Alleluia alleluia
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

When I Can Read My Title Clear

A great Isaac Watts poem that speaks volumes about how God will take care of us.

 

 

When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.

Should earth against my soul engage,
And hellish darts be hurled,
Then I can smile at Satan's rage,
And face a frowning world.

Let cares like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall,
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heav'n, my all!

There shall I bathe my weary soul
In seas of heav'nly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

One of my personal favorites:

 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

 

Lord, I Approach Thy Mercy Seat

Lyrics by John Newton

Lord, I approach, Thy mercy seat,
Where Thou dost answer prayer;
There humbly fall before Thy feet,
For none can perish there.

Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By war without and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.

Be Thou my Shield, my hiding Place,
That, sheltered near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died.

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

A great Charles Wesley text.

All. Six. Verses.

 

 

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father's throne above
So free, so infinite his grace!
Emptied himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned sprit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

 

From a man who got excommunicated for his science...

… well, until recently. He was restored, but he had been dead for a few centuries. What is a few centuries in purgatory anyway, hmmm? ;-)

 

            "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."

- Galileo Galilei

 

There is a Fountain Filled with Blood

A great hymn of the Church. The 1975 and 1991 Baptist Hymnals did not include the final verse, I expect because they didn’t want to invoke “bloody Christianity”. I would have disagreed, but they chose not to include me on the committee!

 

William Cowper’s text first published in 1772. Now THAT is an ‘old song’…

 

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save,
When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave.

 

Listen to the Mockingbird

When I was a boy, our front porch was right outside my bedroom window. I had a bicycle with hi-rise (butterfly) handlebars on the porch, directly outside my window.

 

I didn’t need an alarm clock.

 

For whatever reason, from early Spring (even earlier now) a mockingbird would sit on those handlebars and go through his entire repertoire several times each and every morning beginning at early morning twilight. I’d lay there and listen to this mockingbird run through this cycle every morning, not 10 feet away, almost literally in my ears. Oh, yeah. No air conditioning. The window was open. This bird came back season after season from the time I was an early teenager until I left home. I knew it was the same bird, since his pattern of song was cyclic and at least to me, predictable.

 

It was at this time that mockingbirds actually became my favorite avian beast.

 

So I was walking through the house on Sunday afternoon and couldn’t help but notice that one of our mockingbirds was back and really carrying on in the Yaupon Holly in front of the house. I stopped and listened for awhile. I went up to the window and carefully leaned out so as not to startle him, and there he was. Not 5 feet away. He would just turn his head from side to side, keeping an eye on me, but still running through his cycle. I probably stood there for 5 or more minutes watching and listening. Brought back many fond memories.

 

Then I noticed it. This mockingbird only had one leg. His left one was missing. At first, I thought maybe he just had it tucked up under his hindquarters, but I was looking from the behind at him, and no, he had no left leg. I thought to myself “how sad. Here he is trying to mark his territory with his song and attract a mate, but yet he only has one leg”. But still he carried on as if nothing was wrong.

 

Well, nothing was wrong. He never knew anything but a right leg. He grew up that way. And didn’t give it a single mockingbird-thought.

 

This morning? He had moved into the pine tree and was the loudest thing on the block, even though the temperature had dipped down to around 30.

 

I have no great moral conclusion here. I *could* get on my horse and ride off in different directions, political, moral, theological, etc., but so could you.

 

I just love mockingbirds. Especially the brave ones.

 

 

Blessed Assurance

Easter appropriate!

 

Blessed Assurance

Fanny Crosby – 1873

[see the Wikipedia article about Fanny Crosby at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Crosby]

 

1.      Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

        O what a foretaste of glory divine!

        Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

        born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:

        This is my story, this is my song,

        praising my Savior all the day long;

        this is my story, this is my song,

        praising my Savior all the day long.

 

2.      Perfect submission, perfect delight,

        visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

        angels descending bring from above

        echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

        (Refrain)

 

3.      Perfect submission, all is at rest;

        I in my Savior am happy and blest,

        watching and waiting, looking above,

        filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

        (Refrain)

 

Have You Been to Calvary?

Wonderful lyrics. My new ‘favorite’ invitation song…

 

Have You Been To Calvary Chorus 1 It was there on Calvary God's dear Son lay down His life for you While there's time don't delay Place your faith in Christ Jesus Turn your eyes now to Calvary Verse 1 Have you been to the cross Where the Lord Jesus suffered Have you been to Calvary Have you been to the place Of redemption for sinners Have you been to Calvary Verse 2 You can search you can buy and try Ev'rything man-made But it cannot satisfy It is Christ only Christ Who gives life more abundant And He calls from Calvary Verse 3 While the Spirit's clear voice Can be heard softly pleading Give your life to Jesus now Trusting faith is the way To have life everlasting And He calls from Calvary

 

The Lord Is My Light

Psalm 27

I need this today

 

	The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
	When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
	Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
	One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
	For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
	And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
	Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
	When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
	Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
	When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
	Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
	Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
	I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
	Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Blessed Quietness

A really meaty, singable hymn which has not been around for awhile. Looking at a 3 stanza version in Dr. McKinney’s 1940 Broadman Hymnal right in front of me. Dr. McKinney left stanza 2 and 4 out.

 

Here are all 5 stanzas and refrain from Mrs. Ferguson’s poem. Cyberhymnal has the tune at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/l/blessedq.htm

Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.

Refrain

Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!

Bringing life and health and gladness,
All around this heav’nly Guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Changed our weariness to rest.

Refrain

Like the rain that falls from Heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high.

Refrain

See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessèd fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness.

Refrain

What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What a perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place!

Refrain

 

The Ninety and Nine

Stephen Fox brought this hymn up at Baptist Life today as a part of the discussion of the Baptist Hymnal coming out this year. While it is not going to be in the new hymnal, it is very deserving of never being forgotten.

 

There is a great backstory about this hymn, but suffice it to say that Ira Sankey to Ellizabeth Clephane’s words and put it to his tune. It was used in the Moody and Sankey revivals in Scotland in the late 1800s quite a lot, especially with children.

 

Great text that encompasses the Parable of the Sheep and makes it easy to remember.

 

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold;
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare;
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me.
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry;
’Twas sick and helpless and ready to die.

“Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way,
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder-riv’n,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of heav’n,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

 

"Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound"

by Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751, stanzas 1, 2, 4 & 6

by Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778, stanzas 3 & 5

        1. Grace! 'Tis a charming sound,

        Harmonious to the ear;

        Heaven with the echo shall resound,

        And all the earth shall hear.

        2. Grace first contrived the way

        To save rebellious man,

        And all the steps that grace display

        Which drew the wondrous plan.

        3. Grace first inscribed my name

        In God's eternal book;

        'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,

        Who all my sorrows took.

        4. Grace led my wandering feet

        To tread the heavenly road;

        And new supplies each hour I meet

        While pressing on to God.

        5. Grace taught my soul to pray

        And made mine eyes o'erflow;

        'Twas grace that kept me to this day

        And will not let me go.

        6. Grace all the work shall crown

        Through everlasting days;

        It lays in heaven the topmost stone

        And well deserves the praise.