Music Mondays

I was first exposed to this week's song through Kristian Stanfill and the Passion 2012 album. Originally a Hillsong creation, it's a sing-able worship song that's gotten some radio play that I've come to like despite myself.

Being a theologically-trained pastor, I almost automatically revert to analyzing songs when I'm listening to or singing them. I'm sure this revelation will come as a shock to those of you who have read this blog.

I appreciate this song for the truth it proclaims about the Lord, but at the same time it seems contrived and formulaic in a lot of ways (much like this somewhat sarcastic "How to" video).

So in the end, I'm left with enjoying a song despite my mental dissonance. It offers a great proclamation and hope that we can run to God's arms and find a love that "will always be enough".

 

Music Mondays

I was doing some heavy reading today in a local coffee shop/bookstore. It was detailed church history that traced the development of some movements before our nation was even a country. 

This kind of study has it's place and it's interesting how doctrine has developed. You can start to wonder why people acted the way they did - and then you turn around and realize the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

So as I was reading in this area, over the speakers came the following song, which helps give balance and perspective. It's all gotta come back to Jesus.

Bonus Video:

I was a week early last week - Needtobreathe has come out with their official video for "Multiplied", enjoy:

Personal and Pastoral Thoughts on Father's Day

Father's Day is an interesting celebration for me. As a pastor, it takes on one sort of significance. Personally, it takes on a whole different sort of significance.

The pastoral side of me absolutely loves this holiday. God's Word has some great principles for fathers. It calls upon fathers to lovingly teach and lead their children in the things of God (Deut. 6). It models for them how to impart wisdom and what specifically to share with them (the whole book of Proverbs). It encourages otherwise harsh and removed fathers to be gracious (Ephesians 6:4). And when we consider the entirety of Scripture, the God that is progressively revealed as perfectly loving, just, holy, powerful, and good is regarded as our Father (Psalm 68:5, John 14:1-10, Romans 8:15, 1 Peter 1:17-21, et al).

The personal side of me has conflicted thoughts because of my own father. He died when I was 11. So on Father's Day, I have no one to take out to hug, take out to dinner, and share my appreciation. My father also had his own complicated struggles that affected our family even before he passed. He was imperfect like all human fathers of course, but I was just old enough to begin to understand that his flaws were more than run-of-the-mill. Yet I also knew he loved me very much and he loved the Lord despite his struggles.

So on a day like today, I'm excited and reserved all at the same time. I passionately want to call sons of God to become the mighty fathers God desires them to be. And yet I empathize with those who had negative experiences with their earthly fathers and those who had no experience at all.

I've come to the conclusion that it's ok to view Father's Day with these mixed emotions. It's the reality of the human experience that God is redeeming.

Sermon Snippets

Father's Day is upon us. 

That is an occasion of celebration for many, but a bittersweet reminder for others. We don't pick our fathers, but they have a tremendous impact on us - even if they are absent.

On Sunday we will look at two key ingredients that make up a good father. But I thought I'd pass along an article I read earlier this week that I found to be pretty moving. 

This isn't a good article, it's a great one. And I'd encourage you to read it, especially if you are like me, and had to navigate part of your life without your biological dad.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/06/12/boers-in-celebration-of-dads/

Music Monday

I had this song in mind for today's post. And then I heard it first thing this morning when I turned on the radio and I knew it was meant to be.

Your love is like radiant diamonds
Bursting inside us we cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us
Like blazing wild fires singing Your name
 
God of mercy sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the skies
And these Halleluiahs be multiplied

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/needtobreathe/multiplied.html

Sermon Snippets - Philippians 1:12-18a

I grew up in the first generation to experience cultural concern for self-esteem. Our teachers and parents had an elevated sensitivity about how we viewed ourselves. It was a positive development in the area of young people's mental health. Obviously it's not good to have an elevated sense of one's self-importance, but to have a poor view of one's value and worth can be even more damaging. A low self-esteem can lead to depression, self-injury, and suicide. What is needed to avoid those destructive consequences is a proper view of one's intrinsic value.

This is relevant to this week's passage in Philippians because I believe the American Church has a self-esteem problem. No doubt some American churches have a problem with an elevated sense of self-worth. But there is a growing perspective that is just the opposite. Many are becoming concerned that the American Church is dying.

I am of the opinion that the demise of the American Church is greatly exaggerated. Articles like this one by Ed Stetzer provide perspective and balance to the hysteria that believes the sky is falling. I am also of the opinion that Jesus' words to Peter and the other disciples in Matthew 16:18 serve as a promise:

¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

The American Church could die and this promise could still be fulfilled - since it is describing the worldwide Church. But it's not dead yet, and as long as there is life in the American Church, God's Spirit and Power still exist in it. And those are the ingredients that make the Church unstoppable. Jesus is describing it as an invading force overwhelming the Gates of Hades. Satan cannot stop it. Death cannot hold the Church back from advancing. Success is guaranteed!

Paul understood this, which is why he could be so resolute about otherwise adverse conditions (Phil. 1:12-14). The Gospel was going forth and that's all that mattered. Even when it was spreading because of impure motives, Paul was joyful (1:15-18a). The Gospel was advancing - nothing could stop it. The Gospel is still advancing - and nothing will stop it.

Music Monday

What am I listening to?
I wrote a short post back around Easter about this song. It speaks of Easter and the power of God and the glory of Jesus. The following video is almost 13 minutes long. But it's a phenomenal song that I always have to listen to when it comes on the radio (a shorter version obviously).

My parents were gifted musicians and when I was younger, we often traveled around to churches and they sang and my dad would preach evangelistic/revival messages.  My favorite song my dad would sing was this Easter song that contains the same message as the above song, though presents it in a much different way. All that to say, subconsciously, I think my heart latches on to Kari Jobe's "Forever" because it both boldly proclaims the Resurrection Truth and also harkens me back to my dad belting out that other old-school tune.