Monday, June 30, 2008

Book Giveaway Winner


The winner of this month's book giveaway is Jeremy.

Jeremy please e-mail me your address and I will ship the book as soon as possible.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

It Is Well With My Soul: The Story Behind The Song

The below article was found here.


It Is Well With My Soul: The Story Of Horatio Spafford

James Mumford unfolds the story behind the famous hymn of trust, It Is Well.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blessed assurance control
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

My sin, 0 the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but in whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, 0 my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford. You might think to write a worship song titled, 'It is well with my soul', you would indeed have to be a rich, successful Chicago lawyer. But the words, "When sorrows like sea billows roll ... It is well with my soul”, were not written during the happiest period of Spafford's life. On the contrary, they came from a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy.

Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860’s Chicago. And this was not just because of Horatio's legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.

Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help. He was traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French steamer 'Ville de Havre' across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned. He would follow on later. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: "Saved alone."

On November 2nd 1873, the 'Ville de Havre' had collided with 'The Lochearn', an English vessel. It sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had been rescued, Mrs. Spafford's first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her, "You were spared for a purpose." And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."

Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn.

The words which Spafford wrote that day come from 2 Kings 4:26. They echo the response of the Shunammite woman to the sudden death of her only child. Though we are told "her soul is vexed within her", she still maintains that 'It is well." And Spafford's song reveals a man whose trust in the Lord is as unwavering as hers was.

His worship does not solely depend on how he feels. "Whatever my lot", he says, come rain or shine, pleasure or pain, success or failure, "Thou hast taught me to say / It is well, it is well with my soul".

Nor does his worship centre on himself He focuses on what God has already done (0 the bliss of this glorious thought / My sin ... is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more) and what God will do in the future ("Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight / The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend").

In fact, Spafford's worship brings us back to the bottom line: at the end of the day, come hell or high-water, it is "this blessed assurance" that holds us fast.


HT: DG

Sunday, June 22, 2008

The Final Quest: A Blessing in the Midst of Controversy

I have been considering the controversial nature of some of God's people. Isn't it interesting that His people throughout history have been often embroiled in great controversy. Some people love them and some people hate them. The prophets in the Scriptures were often abused, jailed, and even killed in the midst of such controversy.

I can truly think of no more controversial person in history than Jesus of Nazareth. This One who so impacted history that even history itself is delineated by reference to Him (B.C. & A.D.). Jesus confronted the religious people of the day and turned the tables at the temple. Jesus was then and still is very controversial.

That said, I realize that somebody being controversial, is not therefore justified by being in such a state - the controversy it self does not prove that they are in the right. There are others throughout history who have been controversial but not in such ways as those of Jesus or the prophets.

Matthew 5:11-12
5:11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 6:26
"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

These two statements of Jesus should remind us to keep a tight reign upon our mouths, lest we take part in persecution which may in fact be unjust.

All that was introduction to this controversial subject.

I seem to find myself in the midst of a controversial conundrum of sorts. My background with the more charismatic side of Christianity and my being impacted by reformed theology have stirred up fairly unusual mix as far as Christianity goes. Basically I'm a mut... In the midst of my "mut"ness I find myself not always fitting in (not that one has to always fit in: God seems to have displayed His enjoyment of diversity in its vast display throughout His creation).

So here I go with what will most likely be a very controversial book recommendation.

I have just finished reading The Final Quest, by Rick Joyner (for at least the 3rd time). I have read it's sequel, The Call, a few times and am about to dive into it again. These books have had tremendous and very positive impact upon me in several ways. These books have had a drastic impact on my understanding of humility and the spiritual war - called life. Though I will not now (for sake of time) go into further detail as to what I have gleaned from these books I can say that it is unusual for me to revisit a book for a third time unless I find it very beneficial.

So why is this so controversial? The author is from a charismatic background. He relays, admittedly to his best recollection, several dreams and visions he experienced. The focus of these dreams and visions highlight the Christian life and the spiritual battle that Christians are involved in.

In certain circles of Christianity dreams and visions are looked upon with great scepticism. In the defense of those who carry this scepticism, I would certainly agree there has been an overabundance of abuse of such things. However, just because there has been abuse does not negate any possibility that there may in fact be God given dreams and visions (as is displayed in both the Old and New Testaments). Just because there are counterfeit twenty dollar bills does not negate the fact that there are genuine twenty dollar bills.

To Christianity's great shame, it is not very difficult to find someone who is saying (or writing) something negative about almost anybody. This should not be the case. That said, a doctrinal issue may be addressed with love while the individual propounding such an issue is treated with all due love and respect.

All things considered I gladly give these books my highest recommendation. These books may push you out of your comfort zone. Sometimes it is very good to be pushed outside of comfort zones.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Reflections of Light

As a child may gaze upon the moon light
And presume it to have some luminescence of it’s own
So often we fail to trace the glowing beams to their highest height
And give honor to the greatest Light that the world has ever known

As the moon reflects the light of the sun
And does not otherwise have any light of it’s own
So Your people reflect the great light from the Son
And would otherwise remain in the deepest darkness ever known

And when Your light shines upon those You have made
Grant us eyes to see there’s naught in us but darkest shade
For it is not Your people whose glory shines so bright
Rather, it is You who dwell in unapproachable light

Oh Lord, one more request we would bring
That You might unleash the great light of Your face
For when we, back to You, the glowing beams trace
We cannot help but to sing and to rejoice in Your grace


A. B. Seal
06-20-2008

The Satisfying Effect of Adopting the Purposes of Christ

Most men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their lives. Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within His followers except the adoption of Christ's purpose toward the world He came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of His eternal plans. The men who are putting everything into Christ's undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards.

- J. Campbell White, 1909, Secretary of the Laymen's Missionary Movement

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Cardboard Testimony



Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Falling Towers and Ticking Clocks

According to Luke 13:4, the tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people. This tragedy was discussed by Jesus.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Of all the directions Jesus could have gone in discussing this tragedy, Jesus goes straight to it's implications for those he was speaking to. "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

The fact of the matter is that we all exist in towers that are falling. Some will fall faster than others. How is it that we remain almost completely unscathed by this though we exist in such continually precarious positions. The world displays to us over and over that life can be here one second and gone the next. The daily news is a perfect example of this, as is the obituary page in the local news paper. Death is all around us and many of us act as if we are completely oblivious.

For some of us death is around us more than others due to our occupations. That said it does not seem to matter the occupation or the exposure rate to the end of life. A great many of these who are so employed are also seemingly unconcerned about their own ticking clock which will at some point no longer tell time.

Each of us is given a limited number of days and it is of eternal importance to not waste them. This is the centiment of the ministry of Don't Waste Your Life.

What kind of steward are you being? God has given you time and resources - what are you doing with them? (I write this to myself here as well, as I want to put my time and resources to the most God-glorifying and most effective use possible.) I have been recently reminded that people are a tremendous resource. What are you doing with the people in your life? Are you encouraging them? Are you assisting them to be as God-glorifying and effective as they can be? Are you helping them on their way as they are being conformed into the image of Christ, or are you helping them be conformed into your image?

I don't want to be a poor steward and it seems that keeping an eye on the clock, which will stop at some unknown point, may assist me in this effort. I may be less likely to sit on the sidelines, or on my couch in front of the tv, if I am mindful that the clock is ticking.

Would we live differently if we knew the date and time that the tower would fall? Most of us will never know the date and the time. We may however consider the fact that the tower will fall. Considering the shortness of our days may challenge us to endeavor to be better stewards of our time and resources.

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

2008 Desiring God National Conference

2008 DG National Conference:
The Power of Words and the Wonder of God

Children and Treasuring Christ

How do you teach a child to treasure Jesus?  Left unattended to and otherwise undirected, children will catch the treasuring tendencies of those around them (family, friends etc.).

Is it possible to help direct the affections of your child's heart?

It is absolutely possible to direct the treasuring language that comes only from lips while heart affections long after whatever brings most pleasure. It's very easy to teach a child to mimic language. But as we know language alone is not evidence of a love for God.

So it seems our children may be most affected in the direction of their treasuring by seeing the hearts of their family and friends caught ablaze with true affections (and not merely verbal) for God. Children should be brought into experiences of delighting in God with their parents especially and hopefully other family and friends also.

I've shared this illustration at the jail and found it to be effective in relaying a powerful truth.

My daughter's loves her little pets (plastic toys). She takes them everywhere with her, to church, to the store, to grandma's house. Her daddy loves her and enjoys providing financially for her collection of these toys. Her daddy also gladly provides for her housing, food, and clothing. As daddies do, her daddy also protects her and teaches her and smothers her with affection. Wouldn't it be foolish for her to treasure more her little pets than her daddy?

In the same way wouldn't it be foolish for us to treasure more, enjoy more, and delight in more in the little pets (enjoyable things) of this world than our Heavenly Father? Wouldn't it be foolish of us to treasure more our homes, vehicles, toys, health, insurance benefits, retirement plans, family and friends more than God?

Of course the answer is yes this would be very foolish. Yet we desperately need to consider this more than just in passing. It is after all very easy to say with our mouths that we treasure God while the proof of our lives is showing that we are in fact treasuring everything else.

May our children find us truly treasuring Him who is most valuable. May they be caught up into our being caught up into "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Shane and Shane: Psalm 145

I stumbled upon this amazing song yesterday for the first time.
All I can say is wow...

Implications...

I have seen in Christianity two types of teaching & preaching: one with powerful implications for life and one without. For example a preacher may wax eloquent and even be very bold and passionate while delivering his message. Those who heard it may afterwards walk away excited about hearing a passionate message but may in fact leave without anything to take with them in the journey of life.

I have often wondered if this implications issue is the acid test with which to assess the strength of a message. (That said I realize that Christ-centeredness is absolutely essential here as well.) I am, however, reminded that God's word Never goes forth void. He is after all very good at taking our few loaves and fish and making it to feed many.

Teaching that seems most powerful is that which comes armed with implications. A preacher may say something like, "Do you get the picture" or "If this is the case then..." However, whether these implications are highlighted by these types of statements or not seems not to matter, and in fact sometimes it seems just as powerful when they are not so stated. This way the heart and truth behind the message is caught by those who would hear it and marinate in it.

For example I (and many others also) have benefited by marinating in an atmosphere in which Jesus is praised and prized during the services at our church. What increasingly emanates from our services is an atmosphere of praising and treasuring the glory of God in Christ as it is sung about, and preached about in God glorifying and Christ exalting ways.

In an amazing message at T4G '06 entitled, "Why expositional preaching is particularly glorifying to God" Piper explained (paraphrase) some people see (the glory of God), if they can see it at all - with their ears. What he meant was that some people will only behold the glory of God as they encounter it in Christ exalting preaching. I do not think that this is what he (nor I) believes should be the case. Rather that this is often the case with many of those in the church who will not grab shovels for themselves in order to dig in search of the great treasures which would otherwise remain uncovered.

This implication packed preaching is kind of like fishing. Sometimes the implications catch those who hear the message. Jesus said it like this, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." The truth is powerful, it has implications for life, it says "if this then that." These are some of the implications that have caught me:

If He is God then I cannot be.
If He is sovereign then what do I have to fear.
If He is infinitely valuable then He is worth seeking.
If He loves us like this then that is how we are to love each other.
If He has given us Christ then what good thing would He keep from us.
If He is does not make mistakes then I must be right where He wants me to be and when He wants that to change it will.
If salvation is by grace through faith then we cannot earn it.
If we cannot earn it, then we are to remain in a constant state of thankfulness for such a priceless and undeserved gift.
If we cannot earn it, then why would we try to pay back the richest King in existence with a few pennies for a debt so tremendous that we could never, nor will ever (including all eternity) be able to pay.
If God could have purposes in Christ enduring unimaginable suffering then He can have purposes if we must endure suffering.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

MercyMe: Where The Streets Have No Name

MercyMe and their favorite song about heaven:


MercyMe & U2 - Does music get any better than this?

Warning:
Involuntary dancing may occur while watching this video.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Book Giveaway!

This month I will giveaway the excellent book entitled, The Heavenly Man. To qualify for this book giveaway simply leave a comment on this blog post and I'll put your name in a hat. At the end of the month I'll draw one name and ship the book to you for free. I must admit that I have borrowed the idea of a book giveaway from John Bird's blog.


A few years ago I was given this book as a gift and I admit the title threw me. The book laid on my shelf for quite a while before I finally picked it up and began to read. A short while later I was fighting back the tears and had to put the book down and get on my knees in prayer. This book had this effect on me several times. I was simply blown away. It was like reading the book of Acts, only the occurrences therein were going on in our day.

I was first exposed to the persecution of Christians in China when I was about 12 years old at a Michael Card concert. Since then I have often thought of the faithful in China and the tremendous persecution they must endure. This book is the powerful account of a Chinese follower of Christ and the painful path he walked in pursuit of Jesus.
Thanks for the great idea John.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Overflowing Joy and Doubling Delight

"Love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others. The overflow is experienced consciously as the pursuit of our joy in the joy of another. We double our delight in God as we expand it in the lives of others. If our ultimate goal were anything less than joy in God, we would be idolaters and no eternal help to anyone. Therefore, the pursuit of pleasure is an essential motive for every good deed. And if you aim to abandon the pursuit of full and lasting pleasure, you cannot love people or please God."

- John Piper, Desiring God pg. 141

Free Audio Book: The Pilgrim's Progress

This month's free audio book from ChristianAudio.com is The Pilgrim's Progress. It is available to download for free here.

It is an interesting coincidence that I was just telling some friends about this book today and later found it is the free book of the month. Needless to say my friends will be getting a copy!

Bunyan was a imprisoned for 12 years for preaching. His captors were willing to release him if he would but agree to cease his preaching. Though his family too suffered intensely due to his captivity Bunyan would not agree to these conditions for his release. Bunyan wrote an abundance of books during this imprisonment. One of which (if I remember correctly) was this wonderful Christian allegory The Pilgrim's Progress. I have heard it said that this book is the most widely spread book in the world apart from the Bible.

For more details on Bunyan's life I would highly recommend Piper's biographical message on Bunyan which may also be downloaded for free here.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

What's in a Name?

Jeers and taunts came your way
Everywhere you went day after day
Sabbath healings brought their hate
Under our burden You carried the weight
Surely You are the Lamb of God

John pointed the way to You
Every knee will bow, not only a few
Saving mercy flows from Thee
Unto sinners just like me
Savior we love You and praise You

Jet black hair with fiery eyes
Earnestness and majesty in His every word
Searing love that willingly dies
Upon the cross, such love has never been heard
Savior and King, the Lamb who was slain

Jealously loving Your people to You
Ever merciful and more just than we're shown
Spirit and flesh, God though man too
Unconditional love for those You have known
Servant though King it's Your praises we sing

J...
E...
S...
U...
S...

What does this name mean to you?
For some it is the greatest of treasures.
For others it's used to curse at their pleasure.
To me this name is much more costly than gold.
You can turn to Him too, or would you stay out in the cold?

- A. B. Seal

Monday, June 2, 2008

Jesus vs. Entropy

Revelation 21:5a
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Because of the fall (Gen. 3) we live in an environment overcome by entropy. Everywhere we look things are deteriorating. Cars need repair, houses too, even the human body is bound to this condition and we experience this to increasing degrees the older we get.

Yet in the midst of this fallen world there exist glimmers of newness, of unfading glory, ever free from our current bondage to decay. This magnificent glory, perfect in the presence of Him who makes all things new will one day be an absolute reality. I am thankful that even here in the midst of darkness we're given glimpses of His making all things new. I see evidences of this as I behold Him making many things new right in front of me. Almost as if He had said, "Watch this."

He seems to enjoy His work. We too enjoy it as He takes sinners and picks them up, cleans them off, fills them with grace which was previously non-existent.  I've seen Him making friends and family new. A dad is made new as he does not follow in his father's abusive behavior and lovingly engages in relationship with his son. A mom is made new and miraculously becomes the mother she never had as she teaches, nurtures, and adores her child. A lustful eye is replaced by one that hungers rather for the pages of Scripture than for other previously desired pages. A thirst is now quenched at the fountain of living waters which before only ever tried to be quenched at the bottom of a bottle. A want is deeply satisfied with the treasure hidden in a field which had only ever really been interested in dollar signs.

You see He makes things new. And He gives us these gracious evidences as collateral on the promise that one day He will truly make ALL things new. One day, at His arrangement, there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more loss, and no more entropy.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Moments of Mullins' Meanderings

Simple yet profound meanderings of Rich Mullins were regular occurrences during his concerts. I recently stumbled upon this video. Although I've seen it before I was again reminded of the tremendous blessing that this man, whom I never met, has been to me.