Morning: Easter services will begin with the traditional sunrise service at 6:15 a.m. The message for sunrise service will come from 1 Corinthians 15:1-9.
The regular service (11:00 a.m.) will have a message from John 19:30. This is the last saying from the cross that we will examine. In this passage, Jesus states, "It is finished." The sermon will explore what Jesus meant and what it means for us.
Evening: No evening service.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Old Rugged Cross
I am thinking about the cross. More particularly I am thinking about the old hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" (written by George Bennard). The song conveys a powerful message concerning the cross. It reminds us of what Jesus endured upon the cross on our behalf. Meditate, with me, on these words:
Oh, that the power of the cross were ever before us, shaping our hearts and mind. Have you looked to the wondrous beauty of the cross? If not turn your mind's eye to that hill far away, and see that old rugged cross.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Chorus:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where is glory forever I'll share.
Oh, that the power of the cross were ever before us, shaping our hearts and mind. Have you looked to the wondrous beauty of the cross? If not turn your mind's eye to that hill far away, and see that old rugged cross.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sermon Review 4-5-09
Morning: We continued looking at the seven sayings of the cross. Today we focused on Luke 23:44-46. In this passage Jesus states, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." This expression teaches us at least two truths.
First it demonstrates that Jesus willingly died for our sins. He was not some helpless or hapless victim, we was a willing sacrifice. Jesus is (and always has been) eternally equal with the Father. We have to be careful that we don't confuse the distinctions in persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), with a division of essence, being, or will. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are not three gods, they are one in being, essence, and nature. However, the Father is not the Son nor the Spirit, the Son is not the Father nor the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father nor the son. Three persons, one being. It was the Father's will to crush the Son for the sins of the world, but it was also the Son's will to be crushed.
Second, Jesus fully trusted that he would be accepted by the Father. There was no "hope so," no "maybe," and not even a "possibly." There was only a "Here is my Spirit." Jesus had confidence because he knew that he had completed the Father's will (perfectly), he had fulfilled the Scriptures, he trusted he would be raised to life, and that the Father would vindicate him.
We can have confidence in approaching the Father, if we come through the Son. The torn veil teaches us that Jesus has open the way into the presence of God, so that we may find the grace and mercy we need in times of trouble.
Evening: We marked up our Bibles tonight to prepare us for the task of Evangelism. Key passages were highlighted to simplify the task.
First it demonstrates that Jesus willingly died for our sins. He was not some helpless or hapless victim, we was a willing sacrifice. Jesus is (and always has been) eternally equal with the Father. We have to be careful that we don't confuse the distinctions in persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), with a division of essence, being, or will. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are not three gods, they are one in being, essence, and nature. However, the Father is not the Son nor the Spirit, the Son is not the Father nor the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father nor the son. Three persons, one being. It was the Father's will to crush the Son for the sins of the world, but it was also the Son's will to be crushed.
Second, Jesus fully trusted that he would be accepted by the Father. There was no "hope so," no "maybe," and not even a "possibly." There was only a "Here is my Spirit." Jesus had confidence because he knew that he had completed the Father's will (perfectly), he had fulfilled the Scriptures, he trusted he would be raised to life, and that the Father would vindicate him.
We can have confidence in approaching the Father, if we come through the Son. The torn veil teaches us that Jesus has open the way into the presence of God, so that we may find the grace and mercy we need in times of trouble.
Evening: We marked up our Bibles tonight to prepare us for the task of Evangelism. Key passages were highlighted to simplify the task.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
More About Hymns
I have posted hymns on here lately for two reasons: first, they are a wealth of theological and devotional truths that are packaged in memorable ways, and second, it helps to examine them in different contexts. Often, when we sing songs week after week, month after month, year after year, we tend to sing them on "auto-pilot." Our brains know the words, we push air over our vocal chords, our lips move in the proper way to pronounce the words, but somewhere in the process our heart has dropped out. Over-familiarity breeds contempt, or at least complacency.
Yet, singing during worship should be more than the vocalization of theological and devotional truth. It should exude passion and praise. Our songs should flow from our inner being with intensity and emotion. Most of us have had the experience of being move deeply by a song. Whether the song made us laugh from our belly or cry from our soul, they affect us in ways we cannot always fully understand. Immediately, we file them away in our memory banks for later use.
If a song about something in this fading world can touch us so powerfully, shouldn't songs about the great and eternally glorified King of kings and Lord of lords move us? And sometimes they do. When was the last time you were moved when you sang, "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow?"
The thought of blessings flowing into our lives from God should cause us to break out in singing, just as the song suggests. Let us praise him. Take time to meditate on the hymns that we sing, and even the ones we don't. It helps make their meaning sink into our hearts, and flow freely in our singing.
Yet, singing during worship should be more than the vocalization of theological and devotional truth. It should exude passion and praise. Our songs should flow from our inner being with intensity and emotion. Most of us have had the experience of being move deeply by a song. Whether the song made us laugh from our belly or cry from our soul, they affect us in ways we cannot always fully understand. Immediately, we file them away in our memory banks for later use.
If a song about something in this fading world can touch us so powerfully, shouldn't songs about the great and eternally glorified King of kings and Lord of lords move us? And sometimes they do. When was the last time you were moved when you sang, "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow?"
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The thought of blessings flowing into our lives from God should cause us to break out in singing, just as the song suggests. Let us praise him. Take time to meditate on the hymns that we sing, and even the ones we don't. It helps make their meaning sink into our hearts, and flow freely in our singing.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Brotherly Love
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Ps. 133:1)
David's words have spiritual overtones to them, but they also speak to the reality of earthly life. It is a good things when brothers live in unity. I got to hang out with my brothers tonight. I don't get to do it as often as I would like. We usually have a good time together. We all love to laugh, usually at each other, but in a gentle loving way. We never know what all will come up in conversation. Sometimes we start with a game of "catch-up," where we lay out the details of our lives since we last saw each other. Other times, we stroll down memory lane. Or we talk about our families, hopes, and dreams. We may discuss our difficulties or heartaches. Occasionally, we may talk politics, but never for long. We meet together as friends and equals, the sibling rivalry of childhood long ago laid to rest. We are the products of our parents, raised to love each other, to overcome division and strife, to pull together and lift each other up.
I'm not saying we don't ever disagree. Sometimes there has been great disagreement, however no matter what occurs we always find ourselves coming back together. The struggles never truly diminish the love we have for each other. I am convinced that we are all aware that we stand the strongest, when we stand together. We have learned through the years as we age and mature that we need each other. As we gather together, we seek to keep the past in check and focus on the here and now. We have made our peace in times past and let by-gones be by-gones. We are all close to our mid-point in life, of course, they are closer to theirs than I am mine. I think that reality has driven us to seek unity. None of us know how much longer we have, and we don't want to waste it on petty disagreements that we would regret, if we were to loose one another. Life is too short. So I say with David tonight, It is good when brothers dwell in unity.
David's words have spiritual overtones to them, but they also speak to the reality of earthly life. It is a good things when brothers live in unity. I got to hang out with my brothers tonight. I don't get to do it as often as I would like. We usually have a good time together. We all love to laugh, usually at each other, but in a gentle loving way. We never know what all will come up in conversation. Sometimes we start with a game of "catch-up," where we lay out the details of our lives since we last saw each other. Other times, we stroll down memory lane. Or we talk about our families, hopes, and dreams. We may discuss our difficulties or heartaches. Occasionally, we may talk politics, but never for long. We meet together as friends and equals, the sibling rivalry of childhood long ago laid to rest. We are the products of our parents, raised to love each other, to overcome division and strife, to pull together and lift each other up.
I'm not saying we don't ever disagree. Sometimes there has been great disagreement, however no matter what occurs we always find ourselves coming back together. The struggles never truly diminish the love we have for each other. I am convinced that we are all aware that we stand the strongest, when we stand together. We have learned through the years as we age and mature that we need each other. As we gather together, we seek to keep the past in check and focus on the here and now. We have made our peace in times past and let by-gones be by-gones. We are all close to our mid-point in life, of course, they are closer to theirs than I am mine. I think that reality has driven us to seek unity. None of us know how much longer we have, and we don't want to waste it on petty disagreements that we would regret, if we were to loose one another. Life is too short. So I say with David tonight, It is good when brothers dwell in unity.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Spring Is in the Air
The sun was out as I drove to work this morning. Once brown fields are bursting to life in rich vibrant greens. The trees are in blossom. Spring is in the air. I was thinking about that when I drove to work, and about the renewal process. But, as I turned a curve I saw something that reminded me that even in the midst of renewal death is ever present. That something was a vulture eating a raccoon that didn't make it across the road. I began to think about the temporariness of renewal here on earth, and began to long for the great renewal when Christ returns. As Spring erupts around us, remember it's only a shadow of better things to come.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Distractions
I try to avoid distractions prior to preaching and teaching, but sometimes its difficult. Sometimes, I can be so singularly focuses that I cannot "let go" of something. This focus usually occurs when I encounter a problem that arrests my attention. For example, this afternoon I cut some pages out of a workbook to laminate. Somehow I misplaced one of the pages. Instead of making a copy from a duplicate workbook (the time saving, logical choice), I retraced my steps at least three times, went through several workbooks and paper piles, looked to see if the pages had been laminated together, crawled under my desk (not an easy task), and finally looked in illogical places--all to no avail. I am still thinking about that missing page. It bothers me, it bothered me at work, it bothered me on the drive home, and it will probably haunt me in my sleep. It's the curse of single-minded focus.
Other times, I am very easily distracted. Especially, if I don't want to do something. I'm like a kid who would rather play catch than rake the leaves. My procrastination stems, in part, from a tendency toward perfectionism. I want everything decently and in order. However, I am not quite sure what that should look like so I avoid doing anything in an attempt to avoid messing it up. Inevitably time slips away, and the task has to be done, so I rush to do it. The desire to get finished surpasses the desire to do it perfectly. I am working on overcoming my procrastination and perfectionism, but they are hard habits to break.
Distraction also comes when I have too many thoughts running through my head or if something is bothering me. It's difficult to overcome mental overload. A word or a phrase can send me chasing a thought through a series of seemingly unrelated memories, only to have one of those memories send my mind racing off in another direction. Usually, I do pretty good at staying on track, but occasionally a chase a rabbit (or ten). All I can say is thank you for your patience.
Other times, I am very easily distracted. Especially, if I don't want to do something. I'm like a kid who would rather play catch than rake the leaves. My procrastination stems, in part, from a tendency toward perfectionism. I want everything decently and in order. However, I am not quite sure what that should look like so I avoid doing anything in an attempt to avoid messing it up. Inevitably time slips away, and the task has to be done, so I rush to do it. The desire to get finished surpasses the desire to do it perfectly. I am working on overcoming my procrastination and perfectionism, but they are hard habits to break.
Distraction also comes when I have too many thoughts running through my head or if something is bothering me. It's difficult to overcome mental overload. A word or a phrase can send me chasing a thought through a series of seemingly unrelated memories, only to have one of those memories send my mind racing off in another direction. Usually, I do pretty good at staying on track, but occasionally a chase a rabbit (or ten). All I can say is thank you for your patience.
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