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.

Music Monday - On a Tuesday

I've been slacking on what are to be weekly posts about music. Totally meant to post yesterday but the holiday threw me off.

So here's another Music Monday on a Tuesday. 

For the next few weeks, I'll just be sharing music I'm listening to right now along with some short commentary.

I've featured this group plenty on this blog, and their newest album was a recent iTunes purchase of mine.
This particular song has been haunting me a little ever since I first heard it on the radio. It's title and chorus seem to be some strong declaration. And then you get to the verses and realize it's lamenting false confidence and false belief in you having a corner on the Truth. At least, that's how I'm hearing it.

It's a song worth meditating on, especially for me as a pastor.

Sermon Snippets

Psalm 23 is one of the most loved and cherished passages in the entire Bible. 
I remember memorizing it as a kid at church and being fascinated with the imagery it portrays.

I have little doubt that it's popularity is due to the wide range of circumstances to which it applies.

Feeling blessed? Be thankful that the Lord leads us to "lie down in green pastures".

Struggling with despair? Seek the Lord who is the only one who can truly "restore my soul".

Unsure about a decision? Seek the Lord who "leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

Facing a fearful situation, even death? Cling to the hope that even in the "valley of the shadow of death" "You are with me".

Wary of the future? Know that if you follow the Good Shepherd, the Lord's "goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life".


Few passages so succinctly cover such a wide gamut of the human experience. No wonder we love it so much. It offers us timely wisdom for whatever time we find ourselves in.

Sermon Snippets

Psalm 119 is our text this week.

It is a very long text. 176 verses - longer than 21 (!) books of the Bible.

It's overriding theme is it's admiration of God's Word. I don't have time (nor the desire) to get into issues of Inspiration, Inerrancy, Canonization, Preservation, or any other related subject (see Millard Erickson's classic Christian Theology if you want to dive into the deep end of that pool).

What I do have time and desire for - emulating Ps. 119 by exulting the wonderful Word of God.
Quick rabbit trail: It's not about the words on a page. It's about connecting with our Creator. God's Word is the vehicle by which we communicate, listen to, learn from, and commune with our Lord.

We enjoy so much in the West. Freedoms, resources, riches, opportunities...our most underrated privilege is our access to this transforming Word.

Let's not take it for granted, let's hide it in our heart, and incorporate it into our entire lives. It is life.

Music Mondays

I was pretty much resigned to the fact that I would be skipping a Music Monday as we studied a Lament Psalm - Ps. 13 - yesterday. 

Finding a family-friendly music selection seemed unlikely. Nothing on Christian radio (or pop radio for that matter) would fit the category of "Lament". After all, who wants to listen to music that reminds you of funerals, famines, or frustrations?


Well, thanks to this blog post, I discovered there are some options available. One in particular stands out to me - probably due to the fact that I think I have heard it on Christian radio. And it turns out, lots of people wanted to listen to music that was lamenting.

So here is Gungor, with "Beautiful Things":