Crazy Stuff there Mr. Chan

So - a while ago, Crazy Love by Francis Chan was the free audio book of the month on christianaudio.com. So, I was listening to it this morning. The book is read by Mr. Chan. I have to listen to it a little at a time and I am only about an hour into it thus far. But, so far, I'm enjoying it quite a bit. So far, I've been invited by Chan a few times to just stop and worship God. Stop, and stand in awe of the greatness of the glory of God.

About 39 minutes into part 1 of 4 is the following quote:

Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength our problems are small indeed. Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?

This was really great for me to hear this morning. Our worry and stress reek of arrogance! Wow!

In other words, How dare we worry! How dare we let our own worries and stresses replace our worship of The Almighty God.

Thanks Francis Chan. Praise Jesus!

Truth Observed

I just found a new blog that I intend to start reading. Truth Observed by Dr. Del Tackett. It's in the "blogs I read" section now too.

I am definitely very interested in the Truth Project.

Hhhmmm.... how much time do I really have available? Can I fit another thing into my schedule?

Pray for me, if you would.

Great post about worship

Go to Ray Ortlund's blog Christ is Deeper Still for more. This is a bit from his post today:

Both Cain and Abel worshiped the Lord. Both brought Him offerings. But the Lord rejected Cain's worship and accepted Abel's. Why?

[...]

Cain did not worship God with the psychology of faith. His gift was safe: "Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground" (Genesis 4:3). He worshiped God out of his income from past labors.

Abel worshiped God with the psychology of faith. His gift was risky: "Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions" (Genesis 4:4). He gave to the Lord from his breeding stock and from their best parts. He worshiped God out of his chances for the future, out of his capital.

[...]

It is good to run from safe, no-risk worship. It is good to worship God with a practical demonstration that He alone is the future our hearts will be happy with.

Run from safe, no-risk worship! Good stuff.

That darn Piper

Ouch! Don't you hate it when preachers talk like this?

I know I do. I hate it because I know it to be true.



It's true of myself, for sure. But, praise God! He saw it fit to love me in spite of my constant desire to be praised by man. He saw it fit to save me knowing that my desire is to take the praise that belongs solely to Jesus. Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!

Opening Prayer

Tri Robinson is the Senior Pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Boise, Idaho.

Being a Vineyard guy, I thought it was cool just to see this particular pastor give the opening prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives. But, more than that, it was a great prayer(s) from Philippians.

Micah the minor (prophet)

I've been looking at Micah (The Lawton Vineyard has been going through the minor prophets) lately. Actually, we just started last Sunday with Micah 1. We'll be moving on and looking at chapter 2 this week, but I probably could have spent three or four weeks just looking at and discussing chapter 1.

Anyhow... the part that I keep reading over and over in Chap. 2 is the last two verses:

12 "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob;
I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will throng with people.

13 One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
they will break through the gate and go out.
Their king will pass through before them,
the LORD at their head."

The NIV gives these two verses the heading, Deliverance Promised.

I guess I've just been getting wrapped up lately in the knowledge that there IS deliverance. And not just the kind that comes from the king, but the kind that comes when the King comes lead us out himself.

Jared Wilson has a great post today - remember the events of 9/11 at the gospel driven church blog. Tragedy, failure, disappointments, sickness, pain, and all the other sorrows we deal with will come to an end. There is hope. Jesus - THE KING of kings and LORD of lords (Rev. 19:16) - is our mighty deliverer. Praise Him!

Ecclesiastes

I was reading some in Ecclesiastes (Chapter 7)this morning and these few verses really caught my attention.

20 There is not a righteous man on earth
who does what is right and never sins.

21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you-

22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.

29 This only have I found:
God made mankind upright,
but men have gone in search of many schemes.


God made mankind upright. We sure don't see it, do we? I don't. I see mankind not as upright, but as utterly wicked. ALL men have gone in search of many schemes.

He made us to be upright. And even though it is us who chooses time and time again to go off on our own "searches", HE still chose to redeem us.
No wonder we "feel" best when we "feel" upright in character. That's how we were made to be. That's how Jesus is.

Good stuff.