Today is March 17th, 2010. Every year on this day we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. This celebration usually consists of drinking copius amounts of green beer and sometimes passing out in the parking lot outside the local pub. So this year, before imbibing too much lime colored ale, let's take five minutes to consider the heart of St. Patrick, on this the day which bears his name. Would he have enjoyed a pint of ale from the local brewery? Probably. But that was not what got him up in the morning and it certainly was not the legacy he would have hoped to leave behind.
Born a wealthy in Roman Britain, Patrick became a rebel in his youth, a slave in his young adult years, a Christian in his desperation, and a pastor and a missionary for the last two thirds of his life. He was a man of the cross, who lived his life, poured himself out, for love of Jesus and the witness of the Gospel. He went to the hardest place he could imagine, Ireland, the land in which he was previously enslaved and there preached the good news of Jesus Christ. He gloried in the message of the Cross and saw tribe after tribe of the "barbarian" Celts come to know Jesus.
The great irony in our celebration of St. Patrick's day is that we have gotten it backawards. We remember the name of Patrick, all the while acting like the pre-Patrick Celts of Ireland. Patrick did not spend last 40 years of his life on the Emerald Isle for the beer, he did for Jesus and His namesake. He lived so Jesus would be glorified and the people (of Ireland) would see His glory. In his own words, "I am a servant of Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life everlasting which is in Jesus Christ our Lord."
Saint Patrick's Breastplate
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
This About Sums It Up
"Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy;- but the Father for love!" - Octavius Winslow
Much thanks to John R. Stott who included this quote in his masterpiece 'The Cross of Christ.'
Much thanks to John R. Stott who included this quote in his masterpiece 'The Cross of Christ.'
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thank You New Day Church!
I am so thankful to New Day Church in Grandview, MO for four awesome years of the Gospel, worship, and community! Thank you for giving my wife and I the opportunity to meet one another, get married, and serve to Lord with you. Sarah and I will miss you all dearly. However, we are excited about what the Lord has in store... both for us and for New Day. So, that being said, "to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 1: 24-25
www.newdaykc.org
www.newdaykc.org
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A Different Gospel?
There are new teachings in the church today that are attempting to undercut the very heart of the Gospel. These new "doctrines" (a term which, I am sure, would be offensive to many who espouse them) are no more than a man centered theology. One without power, conviction, or, in the end, hope that God is truly that different then us. If we are pretty decent people and not deeply depraved, then what need do we have of God? Why did Jesus come and die, was He just a divinely inspired role model for how we are to give our lives away? That seems a bit extreme; if He wanted to be a role model He could have just come and given his entire life to feeding the poor, healing the sick, and consoling the widows. But no, He came to live like we would not live, die like we should have died, and rise like we could not rise!
Paul's words in the first chapter of Galatians resound as a warning to those who come in the name of Jesus bearing a "different gospel" and to those who listen and take their teaching to heart. "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1: 6-9).
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, speaking of the church in his day said the following:
"There has sprung up in the Church of Christ an idea that there are many things taught in the Bible which are not essential; that we may alter them just a little to suit our convenience: that provided we are right in the fundamentals, the other things are of no concern.... But this know, that the slightest violation of the divine law will bring judgments down upon the Church, and has brought judgments, and is even at this day withholding God's hand from blessing us.... The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.... Until we come back to that the Church will have to suffer.... Our victories of the Church have not been like the victories of olden times. Why is this? My theory to account for it is this. In the first place, the absence of the Holy Spirit in great measure from us. But if you come to the root of it to know the reason, my fuller answer is this: the Church has forsaken her original purity, and therefore, she has lost her power."
Why is the church lacking for power or potency? Because, we lack conviction, which is rooted in a right understanding of the Cross of Christ, fired and refined by the Word of God, and sealed to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. But, many who say "Lord, Lord" will give up these truths in search of a weaker, watered down theology, one which will not offend the masses! But what then is forsaken? Simply the very words of Jesus: “Go and tell... what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7: 22-23).
However, if we will love the Cross, cherish and search the Word of God, and truly open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, then these words of Jesus are for us, "You will see greater things than these.... Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1: 50-51).
Paul's words in the first chapter of Galatians resound as a warning to those who come in the name of Jesus bearing a "different gospel" and to those who listen and take their teaching to heart. "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1: 6-9).
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, speaking of the church in his day said the following:
"There has sprung up in the Church of Christ an idea that there are many things taught in the Bible which are not essential; that we may alter them just a little to suit our convenience: that provided we are right in the fundamentals, the other things are of no concern.... But this know, that the slightest violation of the divine law will bring judgments down upon the Church, and has brought judgments, and is even at this day withholding God's hand from blessing us.... The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.... Until we come back to that the Church will have to suffer.... Our victories of the Church have not been like the victories of olden times. Why is this? My theory to account for it is this. In the first place, the absence of the Holy Spirit in great measure from us. But if you come to the root of it to know the reason, my fuller answer is this: the Church has forsaken her original purity, and therefore, she has lost her power."
Why is the church lacking for power or potency? Because, we lack conviction, which is rooted in a right understanding of the Cross of Christ, fired and refined by the Word of God, and sealed to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. But, many who say "Lord, Lord" will give up these truths in search of a weaker, watered down theology, one which will not offend the masses! But what then is forsaken? Simply the very words of Jesus: “Go and tell... what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Luke 7: 22-23).
However, if we will love the Cross, cherish and search the Word of God, and truly open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, then these words of Jesus are for us, "You will see greater things than these.... Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1: 50-51).
Thursday, June 4, 2009
How We Live: A Challenging Article
Below is an excerpt from 'Stem Cells and Torture: What a society can and cannot afford to do when its survival is at stake,' by Gilbert Meilaender. It is a rather heady article, but worth the read if you wish to have some of your thoughts provoked. I am not saying I agree with everything he says, but this passage from his conclusion, as he draws upon the immeasurable C. S. Lewis, seems to ring true.
"We need to learn again that it is not within our power to make ourselves, our society, or those we love secure. How easily we forget that our society and its way of life are fragile and delicate flowers. They are always at risk.
On October 22, 1939, at the Church of St. Mary the -Virgin in Oxford, C.S. Lewis preached at evensong. To anxious undergraduates, many of whom would soon face death, and all of whom must have wondered what they were doing studying mathematics or metaphysics at a time when their nation was in mortal peril, Lewis said, 'If we had foolish unchristian hopes about human culture, they are now shattered. If we thought we were building up a heaven on earth, if we looked for something that would turn the present world from a place of pilgrimage into a permanent city satisfying the soul of man, we are disillusioned, and not a moment too soon.'
Life, and our shared way of life, are always fragile and insecure. That is not a crisis; it is human history. And during our share of that history it will always be true that how, rather than how long, we live should be our central concern."
If you want to read the entire article, go to http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/571vhyvx.asp?pg=1.
P.S.
Meilaender's conclusion reminds me of the conversation had between Gandalf and Frodo in the first 'Lord of the Rings' movie.
Frodo: "I wish none of this had happened." Gandalf: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
"We need to learn again that it is not within our power to make ourselves, our society, or those we love secure. How easily we forget that our society and its way of life are fragile and delicate flowers. They are always at risk.
On October 22, 1939, at the Church of St. Mary the -Virgin in Oxford, C.S. Lewis preached at evensong. To anxious undergraduates, many of whom would soon face death, and all of whom must have wondered what they were doing studying mathematics or metaphysics at a time when their nation was in mortal peril, Lewis said, 'If we had foolish unchristian hopes about human culture, they are now shattered. If we thought we were building up a heaven on earth, if we looked for something that would turn the present world from a place of pilgrimage into a permanent city satisfying the soul of man, we are disillusioned, and not a moment too soon.'
Life, and our shared way of life, are always fragile and insecure. That is not a crisis; it is human history. And during our share of that history it will always be true that how, rather than how long, we live should be our central concern."
If you want to read the entire article, go to http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/571vhyvx.asp?pg=1.
P.S.
Meilaender's conclusion reminds me of the conversation had between Gandalf and Frodo in the first 'Lord of the Rings' movie.
Frodo: "I wish none of this had happened." Gandalf: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
My Problem with Blogging and Why I Need to Do it More
I enjoy reading blogs... this is not a confession, more just an admission of fact. When I read a good blog, I often find myself thinking, "hmm, I should really get online and write more." So, I make my way, via the electronic pathways of the Internet, over to my little corner of the blogging universe and I begin typing. But, before long, I find myself, growing dissatisfied with the words that are coming out on screen. I delete some, add some, rearrange some and still cannot shake the feeling that something is wrong. This is partially due to the fact that I am a perfectionist which really slows down the process, making the experience of writing a rather labourious process for me. But it is more than that, deeper than that, by the time I get a few paragraphs banged out, I begin to wonder if I even want what I am saying to be out there for everyone to read and scrutinize. It's not that I am afraid people will disagree with me or that I might upset some one, heck, I do not even know if anyone is reading what I write. Rather, I start to get the feeling in the back of my mind that I do not have the conviction to back up my words.
Yes, that is it, at the root, it is a question of personal conviction. I have many concerns and ideas floating about inside me, but many of these, dare I say most of these lack conviction. I may feel something passionately one day and want to write about it, but as my fingers punch the keys and my emotions begin to pour out, I often find that they lack conviction. In many cases they are simply knee jerk reactions to something that has come across my path in that moment. Other times I find that I may be convinced of a topic, issue, or cause, but I do not have the conviction to express myself as only to add to the already overwhelming cacophony present on the subject.
The simple solution I suppose would be not to blog. In fact, if you have happened upon this posting you are probably saying that very thing to me in in your head to me right now. However, I would like to write more, or rather, I would like to flesh out my convictions more, so as to be able to better express them, both in the written word, but also in conversation. I find that, in stark contrast to my lack of blogging, I have very little problem making my opinions known in casual conversation. But often times, upon speaking, I begin to get that same sense in the back of my mind, that perhaps I am not as convicted of my words as I should like.
So, I would like to find a middle ground, where I speak less and write more, where my words, both blogged and spoken, are rooted in personal conviction. I have a feeling that this will be easier said (blogged) then done, but it to this end that I
Yes, that is it, at the root, it is a question of personal conviction. I have many concerns and ideas floating about inside me, but many of these, dare I say most of these lack conviction. I may feel something passionately one day and want to write about it, but as my fingers punch the keys and my emotions begin to pour out, I often find that they lack conviction. In many cases they are simply knee jerk reactions to something that has come across my path in that moment. Other times I find that I may be convinced of a topic, issue, or cause, but I do not have the conviction to express myself as only to add to the already overwhelming cacophony present on the subject.
The simple solution I suppose would be not to blog. In fact, if you have happened upon this posting you are probably saying that very thing to me in in your head to me right now. However, I would like to write more, or rather, I would like to flesh out my convictions more, so as to be able to better express them, both in the written word, but also in conversation. I find that, in stark contrast to my lack of blogging, I have very little problem making my opinions known in casual conversation. But often times, upon speaking, I begin to get that same sense in the back of my mind, that perhaps I am not as convicted of my words as I should like.
So, I would like to find a middle ground, where I speak less and write more, where my words, both blogged and spoken, are rooted in personal conviction. I have a feeling that this will be easier said (blogged) then done, but it to this end that I
Thursday, July 3, 2008
My Story
I told my life's story to a group of friends the other night, and you know what I found? Hope, peace, even some excitement. I think there is a kind of fear that many of us harbor which surrounds the sharing of our personal stories. It is a fear that is rooted in the belief that we may look back and see no meaning or direction in our lives, or, that in so doing, we may just relive some painful memories only to find out that we really are all alone in this worldly sojourn. However, when I shared my story and put into some, very inadequate words, to my life's story I came face to face with a very different reality.
My whole life, the good and the bad: all those things that had felt so meaningless, the moments of seeming hopelessness, even the deep wounds loss no longer have the cruel appearance of arbitrary chaos. Instead, they form the revelation, evidence, and the testimony of Jesus in my life. My story serves as a reminder to my heart that God is in control, even when, especially when, I am not. I have never been beyond His reach and in every circumstance He was drawing me towards Himself. His heart was, is, and will always be for me.
Please, do not let the enemy steal your life's story from you. I dare you to tell your story to some one and invite God to meet you in it. Maybe you have never met Him, maybe you just feel that way, but whatever the case, please, invite him into your story, you will not be disappointed.
My whole life, the good and the bad: all those things that had felt so meaningless, the moments of seeming hopelessness, even the deep wounds loss no longer have the cruel appearance of arbitrary chaos. Instead, they form the revelation, evidence, and the testimony of Jesus in my life. My story serves as a reminder to my heart that God is in control, even when, especially when, I am not. I have never been beyond His reach and in every circumstance He was drawing me towards Himself. His heart was, is, and will always be for me.
Please, do not let the enemy steal your life's story from you. I dare you to tell your story to some one and invite God to meet you in it. Maybe you have never met Him, maybe you just feel that way, but whatever the case, please, invite him into your story, you will not be disappointed.
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