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Back In The Saddle…

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Yes, I’m back in the office today. Hoping to finish sermons on Mark 13:28-37 and Hosea 1:1-2:1. Then, tonight’s class on Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, considers the narrow way we live in the Christian life, based on Matthew 7:13-14. Have phone calls to return, emails to work on, business to attend too. Ah, it’s good to be back.

Study Day…

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Yeah, it’s a Tuesday. There are some things hopping in life and I feel like I needed to get away for a study day. I do these occasionally. Sometimes I just read, sometimes I’m quiet, sometimes I’m listening or watching something, but they are always productive.

Today, my big task is prepping for a new sermon series I’m starting this coming Sunday evening through the book of Hosea. Mark in the mornings, Hosea in the evenings — this is my habit now. Needed to get away, though, to wrap my mind around the argument of the book.

Also finished reading (again) Tedd Tripp’s excellent book on parenting, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. After reading I’ve noticed how I settled into some bad habits of just addressing Andrew’s behavior and not his heart. This was a welcome and needed reminder. We are planning on working through this material and the DVD seminar to go with it during the summer.

Anyway, if you read this blog, could you please pray for me today. Spiritual focus is needed and God can provide it. Hope the Lord’s blessing is extended to you as well.

MLJ on Union with Christ…

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Speaking of our church’s small group curriculum… this quote from Lloyd-Jones really summarized the truth found in last night’s group:

There is nothing, perhaps, in the whole range and realm of doctrine which, if properly grasped and understood, gives greater assurance, greater comfort, and greater hope than this doctrine of our union with Christ. (as quoted in How People Change, p.34. Originally quoted in Lloyd-Jones commentary on Romans, chapter 6, pp.106-148.)

Boisvert on Bitterness…

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I was greatly encouraged, challenged and edified by listening to a sermon recently preached by Robin Boisvert (who is one of the co-authors of the curriculum our church is currently using for small groups). The sermon is entitled What the Gospel Says to Our Bitterness, and it is part of Covenant Life‘s continued exposition through Ephesians. What is always appreciate about this church and its pastors are their unflinching commitment to center everything they do on the Gospel. Listen and see if you don’t agree.

Things That Matter

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Here are some incredible lyrics off of Ross King‘s song, Things That Matter…
I’m gonna say it now, should have a long time ago
It’s what we’re all about, we can’t pretend we don’t know
It’s something nobody every really speaks of
it isn’t God but it’s the god that we have given our love
and that love is wasted because

Your honor and Your glory, and Your Kingdom
Are the only things that matter, really
We rarely ever live for what’s eternal
but those are the only things that matter at all

You could take the lamp away, You’ve got the power and the right
Our anorexic faith makes for an unworthy bride
We’ve made a lover of anything that loves us
We’re still trying to find a way to strike it rich and follow Jesus
And it’s crazy because…

If You’re all for me You can never be all for You,
And that won’t do at all
To my surprise, the glory of the Lord is worth much
more than my self-gratification
So the anthem of my generation should be…
Your Kingdom is the only thing that matters, really

It’s sneaking ’round outside, it’s crouching down at my door
It’s teaching me to lie, and it simply can’t be ignored
So when I sit at the table of the rich man
I put a knife to my throat so that I will not give in
To temptation because…

Copyright 2002 by Ross King.

1st vs. 2nd…

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J.C. Ryle, from his Commentary on Mark, p.210…
“The second coming in Christ will be utterly unlike the first. He came the first time in weakness, a tender infant born of a poor woman in the manger at Bethlehem, unnoticed, unhonored, and scarcely known. He will come the second time in royal dignity, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized and feared by all the tribes of the earth. He came the first time to suffer – to bear our sins – to be reckoned a curse – to be despised, rejected, unjustly condemned and slain. He will come the second time to reign – to put down every enemy under His feet – to take the kingdoms of this world for His inheritance – to rule them with righteousness – to judge everybody, and to live forevermore.”

President’s Day?

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Anybody do anything special on this day. At the Y this AM, I noticed the History Channel is doing something, but other than keeping us from getting snail mail, how does this day affect your life?

Shoddy Journalism?

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I was reading Baptist Press (who allegedly pride themselves on being “news with a Christian perspective) this morning and came across this story about Mark Driscoll. Needless to say, after reading my first thought was, I wonder if they tried to talk to Driscoll. Timmy Brister weighs in, as does the seminary where Driscoll spoke this week.

I simply think we need to be more Christian in our actions towards (or in this case our words about) others. Driscoll’s not perfect (and that doesn’t excuse his sin) but I’ve also heard him be very transparent about sins and weaknesses. I just think allowing him to weigh in on criticism would show how “sinister” he really is. After all, Jesus said, did He not in Matthew 7:12, in the context of judgment, that we should treat others as we would like for them to treat us. I wonder if this is really demonstrating a love for a neighbor?

Then again, I wonder if my life demonstrates a love for others when I proudly act self-righteous compared to those with whom I associate. Lots to think about in this regard.