m.o.g. blog

"Nothing Mattered to Him Except the Gospel"

2006-03-31T05:14:00.000-08:00

It's 1983. Rich Mullins' first song to be recorded by another artist ("Sing Your Praise to the Lord," recorded by Amy Grant), is nominated for Dove Award. Interestingly, Rich didn't even know who Amy Grant was, although by then she was of course a major star in the CCM firmament. Anyway, it's now the post-awards banquet. Jon Rivers (of KTLY Dallas) remembers:

"... I was at a post-Dove Award banquet. It was the usual fancy banquet with all sorts of food and everybody was all dressed up. All of the servers were in white dress coats and white caps, and chefs were running to and fro to make sure everything was all right. I was walking down the dessert line and as I got up to this one dessert, I noticed that standing behind the counter serving was Rich Mullins, who had relieved one of the workers, and donned the cap and jacket. And he stood there the rest of the night serving people dessert, although I'm not sure that half the people knew who he was. That made a big statement to me that nothing mattered to him except the Gospel."

Kind of reminds me of something you might do, Tom.

[The quote, btw, is from the Rich Mullins Timeline.]

My First College English Essay

2006-02-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

Cultural Heritage / Explanation Essay
I remember well the veritable cornucopia of music I heard when I would walk by my sibling’s bedrooms in the big house where I grew up. My brother Rick would be listening to the Beetles, and the Rolling stones while playing along on his drums. My sister Lori would be playing her guitar and singing Bob Dylan’s classic song “The Times They Are A Changing”. I still remember all the lyrics to that song even today, Lisa the youngest of my sisters listened to Carol King, Simon and Garfunkel, Gordon lightfoot and many, many more. John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” would be drifting from my brother Jim’s room in the attic as he played his guitar and sang. The list would go on and on if I wrote about every music style and genre my five older brothers and four older sisters listened to or played and sang. My family’s love for music had a very profound effect on my life.
Steve who is my next oldest brother is a piano player and was blessed with a wonderful voice. He would sit at the piano and play songs by ear for hours. The unique thing about Steve is that he cannot read music, I would sit on the stairs near the piano and listen to him play and my heart would just leap inside of me. I learned more about my brother’s heart listening to him sing the songs he wrote, than I ever did having a conversation with him. One particular song he wrote, “Calm of the Night” is a beautiful love song, I close my eyes, and I can hear the passion in my brothers’ voice right now. “Walking alone under the moonlight / a desolate beachfront / no one in sight / I hear you call but it’s all in my mind / I want to be with you for all time / in the calm of the night”. Through his music Steve taught me that it was all right to be transparent with your feelings, I was so moved by his music. If he was singing about something sad, I would feel sad, just like when you lose someone you love. If he was singing something happy, I would feel as happy as if someone had given me a gift I had wanted for a long time. My brothers’ music was a gift, an invaluable gift. Steve is just one of my siblings who inspired in me the passion for music.
My sister Lisa would come home from work and the very first thing she would do was go to her room and turn on the stereo. For her, it was an escape from the stress of a hectic day at the shop. She would sit in her big tan fluffy rocking chair and rock as the sounds of Gordon Lightfoot filled her room. Music was just like therapy to my sister, it moved her, and captured her full attention. I believe it took her to a different place, a peaceful place. To my sister Lisa, listening to music was like slipping into a hot tub when all your muscles ache, soothing and relaxing. Another one of my siblings, Jim, used music for therapy.
My brother Jim would come home from work, go in his room and start playing his guitar and singing. He had a unique deep dirt road voice that lent itself well to the styles of music he chose to sing. There were several occasions when I couldn’t tell if it was Jim singing or a Gordon Lightfoot record playing up in his room. All of my siblings played guitar but Jim was by far the best guitarist of them all. He would sit and practice for hours. I learned so much about the discipline of practice observing his tenacious work ethic as he played guitar for hours on end.
I started playing guitar when I was ten years old. I played until my fingers bled, put band-aids on my fingers and played some more, spurred on by my desire to play like my older siblings. The passion for music that developed in me is almost inexplicable. I always have music playing, whether in my car or at home. I even prefer to listen to music over watching television. In the year 2003 I released my first CD, “Destination Known” I wrote all but one of the songs on it. I dedicated my CD in part to my family for instilling a love for music in me. I have played for audiences in the United States and Europe, and at every kind of event from frat parties to funerals. I play every genre of music imaginable and absolutely love them all. My very favorite thing to do though is sing my four children to sleep at night.
Perhaps I am in some small way hoping to pass on the cultural inheritance my family gave me. My eldest son Gregory is already doing quite well playing the Bass guitar and singing. Just yesterday my next to oldest asked if I could buy him a guitar, what a wonderful note to end on. I am filled with joy at the thought of growing old, listening to my own children play musical instruments and sing. It blesses me to know the musical heritage of my family will not end with me.

Cornocopia

2006-02-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

Nickel Creek and Mike Marshall put on a great show.

It was so awesome to see Dan, Jim, and Josh......May find time for details later....

Concerning the last few postings
Our belief is measured by the evidence of Christ in us. The fruit of the spirit......Simple devotion.....I agree with Nate.........Love the passion in his writing.......The
church in America today is in rough shape......But to condemn the church is to condemn myself..
I am afterall part of the Body of Christ....that we all write about. Does that make sense?

Please forgive the abbreviated post, I am currently attending college halftime and it keeps me very busy. Will write again and more in depth soon.

Creek

2006-01-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

Heard you went to see Nickel Creek again, dude! Heard it from this guy and also from this gal. Also saw pictures of J, E and M on this guy's phone. Woo-hoo, them's cute kids!

BTW: Nate saw Christ Thile and Mike Marshall in Asheville. Got their autographs too.

Is Jesus Ever "Negative"?

2006-01-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

Much of contemporary Christianity has invested in a gospel of positive thinking (call it Osteenism) that resembles certain aspects of the gospel of Christ, and features a liberal sprinkling of Christianese, but is in fact "another gospel."

Have you ever noticed that what is called "prophecy" in the modern church is often sorely lacking in the element of discomfort that seems to be a hallmark of Biblical prophecy. There is never the least hint of a challenge or rebuke, but only a vague "God-has-great-plans-for-you" promise. The upshot: we walk away satisfied, which is all we ever really wanted. Is that the effect of truly Biblical prophecy? Did Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, and the others, make people feel warm, cozy, satisfied, and happy?

Paul said that one of the uses of the Word is for rebuke, but we American Christians have discarded that function as impolite and "negative." We think that if it's truly Biblical, it must be positive, and if its positive it must be Biblical. Yet Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers, calling them thieves, not once but twice, and called the Pharisees white-washed tombs with rotting corpses on the inside. How's that for negative! As far as I can tell, most modern American Christians have no idea what to do with THAT Jesus.

What do you think?

Check out Eight Strings

2006-01-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

Hi Tom. Long time, no posting! Sorry about that. Thanks for the poem (or is it a song lyric) about the coal miners. What an ordeal that must have been. Coming from a coal mining region myself, I heard such stories often when I was a kid. You're right to point out that there is a very high "behind the scenes" price for the electricity in our homes.

Hey, I want to urge you to go over to Nate's Eight Strings and read his latest post, Moving Out Of Suburbia, and tell me what you think. Nate has pretty much taken off the gloves in this post. Is he right? Is he being too harsh? What's your opinion?

12 Miners

2006-01-06T13:46:00.000-08:00

13 miners
Deep inside the earth
My house lights are on
Thanks to their willingness to be in that W. Virginia mine
13 Miners
Knew the danger
Heard the crash
Knew they were trapped

Fellow miners try desperately
To free their 13 friends
From a 200 ft deep coal grave
12, oh no! 12 are gone!
12 lights that will never come on again
Deep inside that W. Virginia coal mine
Heavens light please shine for them
Help the families through this difficult time
Their loved ones lost
In that W. Virginia coal mine.

13 Miners
Deep inside the earth
My houselights are on tonight
Because they willingly went into the mine.

Thanks to all the coal miners
who willingly risk their lives
So we can have coal as an energy source.

What Child Is This?

2005-12-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Jars

2005-12-23T03:50:00.000-08:00

Hey, Tom, I don't know if you've heard this yet, but I think it's some of the best stuff I've heard in a while. A great album to listen to at this time of year, every song a gem. This review says, "This is a worship album that surpasses movements and trends, focused instead on connecting people of faith with their Creator—through a meaningful lyrical tradition of grace and restoration, as well as the band's esteemed and consistent ten-year musical tradition." I agree.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Taking Heed

2005-12-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

Yup, Scripture is like food, isn't it? With it, we grow vigorous, without we fade, lose strength. This has been a year for me of really sinking into the Word. Psalm 37:3-4 says to feed on God's faithfulness (NKJV), and one way we do that is that we see His faithfulness throughout the Scriptures.

Hey Tommy, I wrote a poem last week that I think you might like. You may have seen it on gratitude & hoopla, but I'm reprinting it here just in case you missed it. I'm calling it Taking Heed, which is a title inspired by 1 Cor 10:12, where it says, "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

I cannot master me.
Oh, I would give my all, and yet my all
evades my grasp, eludes my fine intentions--
my heart confounds my every sound conviction,
and secret sin bedevils all my thought.

I do not know myself.
I would be strong, stand firm, fight hard,
and yet my will proves wavering, and all my hope
is hope mislaid--so yet again I find
I lead myself astray.

Lord, help thou my unbelief.
Be thou my brave-heart, my strong-will, my warrior king!
Let me not put hope where hope is always vain,
but be my only worthiness, my everything.
Let me be weak in your strong name.

Silence my pitter-patter tongue.
I come before a shining king and also a lamb slain;
angels and rainbows accompany his reign.
Let his shed blood speak for me
its better name.

The Word

2005-12-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

I really did enjoy your last post Bob:) I believe in a very sincere way that daily bible reading is very important.......I have started a new initiative in my home, each morning before i go to work i read a verse or a passage of scripture to my family. I want to release the word of God in my home..........so often i fill the air with my own words.........God put it on my heart to release or speak his word as often as possible in my home..........His word is a two edged sword.........it is our weapon against the enemy..........it is our daily bread..........the revealed word of God.......A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.........Father God we thank you for giving us your word, may it be ever present in our minds, our hearts, and our homes....AMEN

Quotable

2005-11-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

Here's something I thought you'd like, Tom:

"The nature of water is soft, that of stone is hard; but if a bottle is hung above the stone, allowing the water to fall drop by drop, it wears away the stone. So it is with the Word of God; it is soft and our heart is hard, but the man who hears the Word of God often, opens his heart to the fear of God."

I found it, by the way, in this article by Jill Caratini, from the website of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

Vocation

2005-11-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

In response to your post Bob.....

Jesus was a carpenter......did he only build christian furniture?

Paul the Apostle was a tentmaker...... did he only make " christian tents"?

The afore mentioned are vocations. I agree that being a singer/songwriter is a vocation.
on the other hand what a songwriter writes about comes from deep within the soul or at least it does for me........I think this is the key here that makes the singer/songwriter vocation different.
I believe as a songwriter my songs reveal who i am at a gut level........how i feel about the issues i write about. I suppose the point being........what i write should reveal my passion.......and God has given me a passion for his word and the gospel.........so that is what i tend to write about.......for a singer/songwriter who is a christian to think they can divorce their beliefs from the songs they write to me seems impossible.........why would they even want to.........Does that make sense?

Derek Webb Interview

2005-11-18T14:18:00.000-08:00

Tom, I just read an interesting interview with Derek Webb, formerly of Caedmon's Call. I've heard a lot of good things about his solo work, but am not familiar with it myself. Totally out of the CCM loop, that's me. But anyway in the interview Webb says this:

I would definitely say that this whole thing is not ministry for me. I am not a minister. I am a singer/songwriter. My job is to write and play songs. That's part of what ends up being confusing for people who might judge quickly and harshly on what I'm doing or whatever. They say, "How dare he turn his back on preaching the gospel?"

Just like any Christian in the arts, I don't have any obligation to use my work for evangelism. It's a very common misconception. If you are gifted in the arts...For example, if you are a guitar player, your only option for work is not to go join a praise band. There are a lot of things you can do. But unfortunately, we have the whole gifted in the arts and full-time vocational thing all wrapped up into one now.

You're one who has thought much more about these things than I, so I ask you, what dya think?

Heads-Up

2005-11-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

I posted this over at gratitude & hoopla. I'm posting it here, too, becausse, well, I mean it. I said:

We bloggers exchange a lot of verbiage, and much of it is quickly forgotten. That's the nature of the medium, and I'm not complaining. But once in a while someone blogs something so real, so moving, so important, that it must not, cannot, be forgotten. Worship Madly has done just that. His recent post, Medication (The End) is the third and last in a series (read Part 1 and Part 2 first, by all means). I will say no more. Just read it.

Never Forget

2005-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Worship

2005-11-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Tommy, True Believer is so you! I love that passion, but I'm hungering for the tune, Brother!

Speaking of worship, I've added two blogs to the sidebar that are completely focused on it. Bob Kauflin, who is the worship leader at Joshua Harris' church, has a blog called Worship Matters. He's recently done a series of posts which look at the various definitions of worship. Very interesting stuff.

And then there's Worship Madly. The blogger's name is Greg, and I'm not going to tell you about his recent posts, except to say that they are among the most real, the most pure, the most moving blogposts I've ever read.

True Believer

2005-11-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

True Believer
Draw your sword
Give a shout
In the name of the Lord
The Holy name of the Lord

True Believer
This is war
Human souls at stake
Will you lay down
Your life and sacrifice
All for Jesus sake ?

True Believer
Don't delay
Join the battle
While it is still called today..........

Tom Cornwell

Reggie Kidd's Prayer of Confession

2005-11-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

The following prayer was posted a couple of months back at Reggie Kidd's Blog. As you'll see, it's a prayer of confession, based on the "Beattitudes" of Matthew 5. I like it a lot.

Lord Jesus, you bless the poor in spirit
and give them the Kingdom.
But we fatten ourselves, as James says, “in the day of slaughter”;
we turn away from those whose physical poverty
reminds us of our true spiritual state,
and we build our own little kingdoms of self.

Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.

You bless those who mourn and you comfort them.
But we flee grief that leads to repentance,
and we seek comfort in possessions and prestige and power.

Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.

You bless the meek, and promise them the earth,
you bless the merciful, and promise them mercy.
But we are far from meek —
we try to make the world our own through pride and self-promotion;
we forget the forgiveness that was won at such cost,
and we hold grudges at the slightest offense.

Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.

You bless those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—
you promise to satisfy their desires.
You bless the pure in heart, and promise that they shall see God.
But we hunger and thirst after everything else:
the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes
and the pride of life;
our hearts are not pure, and so we cannot see you.

Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.

You bless the peacemakers and the persecuted and the reviled—
you call them sons of your Father
and you give them the kingdom of heaven.
But we covet each other’s things and looks and jobs and successes,
and we cultivate friendship with world,
so showing ourselves more fit to be sons of the devil
than heirs of your Kingdom.

Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.

Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.
Christe eleison — Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie eleison — Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

Back to the Bible

2005-10-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

We're definitely on the same page, Tommy. That's why the older writers seem so much more sound to me. Andrew Murray, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and many others. They were less "fluffy" by far. The Apostle Paul warned us about being blown about by every wind of doctrine. And he warned in another place that people would have itching ears, and there would come teachers who were willing to scratch their itch and call it the Gospel. I think we live in a time of danger in this regard. The market-driven church, entangled with the economics of the marketplace and with the ethics of the marketplace, is producing products that sell well but are essentially palaces built on sand. We Christian consumers play into their hands, we are willing subjects, because we have been trained to always gravitate toward the new and the novel, especially if it comes with grand promises of success. It is an especially appropriate time now to get back to the Bible. That can be hard work, and it can be convicting, and it can reorient our lives in rather uncomfortable ways. That is, it is not easily packaged for the American consumer mentality, and when it is, everything dangerous and convicting and difficult must first be excised, in order to make it a sell-able product. Too bad. Each one of us is responsible to, as Paul advised Timothy, guard that which has been entrusted to us. Paul goes on, "avoid the irrelevant babble of that which has been called 'knowledge,' for by professing it some have swerved from the faith." 1 Tim 6:20-21 That's something about which we should all be watchful.

Christian Fluff & Stuff

2005-10-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

I could not agree with you more about the fluff. I am not a big fan of the seeker sensitive post modern version of chrisianity. Jesus in my assesment was seeker intuitive I/E he understood the eternal consequenses facing the mankind he created. Do we as believers understand that the wages of sin is death? Are we intent on leading our fellow man to the living water ? Do the books of today like the one your reading Bob cause any level of conviction.........oh now there is a word we don't throw around to loosely anymore.......conviction.........If i am not convicted how can i go to the righteous judje and plead for the blood of Jesus to wash away my sin. Does not conviction imply guilt? The human condition is miserable without Jesus.........We must come as believers to a place where we believe that so deeply that we share it with others whom the holy spirit directs us to. Jesus in us........our only hope.......the only hope for the unsaved.........Have we stopped believing that the simple gospel that Jesus died for our sin has somehow lost its power? Do we really need to find five thousand diifferent ways to serve it up? The gospel is simple and the power is not in our relationships with people. The power of the gospel is not in the fluff.(including my own) . The power is not in anything we can come up with to deliver the message, programs etc...the power is in THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. He is the ONLY way to salvation....our entire lives should be about him.......can we as believers understand the depth of the price our savior paid for us? Can we then share that one simple truth with others free of all the ribbons and bows to try to get others to unwrap the gift.......The power of God is enough...we are weak but he is strong.......Yes Bob i believe it is time we get back to a more firm foundational faith...

A Semi-Rant Against Velvet Elvis

2005-10-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Tom, I'm reading this book called Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell. It's not about Elvis, mind you. It's got almost nothing to do with those cheesy velvet paintings of Elvis. It's just this little book about, ummm, I guess it's about faith or something. It's very vague and insubstantial to me, and I would never have chosen to read it, but my small group is reading it, therefore so am I.

Here's the thing: I find it very tedious and vague and self-reverential. Now, I thought The Purpose Driven Life, another book I read under duress, was tedious and often off-target, but this book really takes the proverbial cake. It's one of those books that tries really hard to be fresh and relevant and un-religious. It's very hip and youth-directed, with talk of the spirituality of U2 concerts and surfing, etc. It's not all falseness, mind you, but more than enough of it is. Tom, I'm just really tired of all this vaguely spiritual-sounding patter, these cheesy attempts to be relevant and post-modern and hip and affirming and blah blah blah.

You want a sample? Bell writes:

My understanding is that to be a Christian is to do whatever it is that you do with great passion and devotion. We throw ourselves into our work because everything is sacred.

Tom, does this seem as vapid and piddling to you as it does to me? I mean, is that what being a Christian is? Funny, I thought being a Christian had something to do with Christ!

It's all well and good to say that everything is sacred--and yes on some level there is truth there, since everything was created by God--but something is missing from this picture. I note for example that sin is in me, and that I am so wrapped up in it that it is not far wrong to say I am totally messed up. And not only me, but the creation itself. Messed up. And unable to fix itself! "Sacred" is not an appropriate word to describe this condition.

There is a problem here that needs solving; messed up creation needs redeeming, and it can't redeem itself. But Rob Bell simply abolishes all categories (and therefore the need for discernment) in order to sound oh so appreciative of God's handiwork, and isn't that just so spiritual! But if everything is sacred, then it doesn't need a redeemer, does it? We have dispensed with the whole notion that creation is truly fallen, marred by sin in such a way that only it's creator can intercede to redeem it. Now, if I call the fallen world sacred, what shall I call the redeemed world? You see, I have drained the word sacred of all significance. That would be like calling everything perfect, or everything pure. No, I have to have a way to differentiate the light from the dark, simply because there is light and dark. But Bell makes no room in all this discussion for the little problem of sin. I'm half-way into the book, and you'd think that the only real problem we have is that we're not all just like the oh so passionate Rob Bell.

And, well, here's the thing, Tom. I'm 49, and I don't need this. This is fluff. I'll read it, and I'll try to keep quiet and not get into a rant when the group meets, but preserve me Lord from bland, misleading books!

***
Many people really love this book. I honestly don't know why. But, in case anoyone is interested, another critical review of the book can be found here. A really excellent analysis not only of this book but of the impulse that has given rise to it is here.

Songs that Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

2005-10-09T03:13:00.000-07:00

The problem with this idea of sharing hymn lyrics, Tom, is that you probably know about a thousand more than I do! But I do like the idea, because these old songs have heft, know what I mean? Pardon me for being the kid who tells the king he's got no clothes on, but so much of contemporary Christian music is to so airy and slight, so tied to the personal feelings of the person singing, and to put it bluntly, so missing Christ and His Cross.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for going back to droning the old songs in church, and there are many fine contemporary songs, but some Sunday mornings we can sing six songs about "the river", or about love, or yes even God, but never name the name of Christ, and never mention the linchpin of our faith, the cross of Calvary. Know what I mean?

So, yes, the old hymns just plain got the focus right more often. Here's one that Isaac Watts wrote a few centuries back, but has been wonderfully renewed by people like Chris Tomlin and Michael W. Smith:

O The Wonderful Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

HYMNS

2005-10-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

I think it would be good to just revel in some of the wonderful hymns that have been written.The one you chose was awesome Bob! It seems many of the old hymns were repleat with simple truths.The truths that we do well to remind ourselves of daily. Here is my pick.......the sound you here as you read this one, is none other than the enemy fleeing.........Because......he can't handle the truth!!!!!

Years I spent in vanity and pride
Caring not my Lord was crucified
Knowing not it was for me he died
On Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At calvary.

By Gods word at last my sin i learned
Then i trembled at the law i spurned
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary

Now i've given Jesus everything
Now i gladly own him as my King
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary

Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At calvary

2005-10-05T04:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Tom, sorry I haven't been posting much lately. I do hope that m.o.g. blog can develop a kind of conversational momentum that will carry it from post to post, so that it's similar to what happens when you and I get together and just start talking, and, well, we can talk all night if we wanted to!

Your hymn below was an awesome post. This morning I wrote on the same topic, the "sufficiency" of the blood of Christ, over at gratitude & hoopla. A couple of things have been foremost in my mind lately. One, yes, the all-sufficiency of the Cross to deal with our rebellion and sin and reconcile us to God now and forever. Two, that God is sovereign. That means, totally. I've heard some talk lately, among Christians, that would seem to question that. But no, this is one of the fundamentals for me. He reigns!

While we're sharing hymns, how about this one:

I'd Rather Have Jesus

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land;
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand:

refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin's dread sway!
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame;
I'd rather be true to His holy name:

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs -
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Solid Ground

2005-09-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus blood and righteousness
i dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly lean on Jesus name
ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND

When darkness veils his loving face
i rest on his unchanging grace
in every high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil
ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND

When he shall come with trumpet sound
oh may i then in him be found
dressed in his righteousness alone
faultless to stand before the throne
ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND

LORD JESUS THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR HOPE WHEN THERE IS LITTLE HOPE TO BE FOUND.........MAY WE LONG AND THIRST FOR YOU AS DAVID SAID "IN A DRY AND THIRSTY LAND WHERE THERE IS NO WATER......WE YOUR PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RETURN, WHEN WE WILL BE WITH YOU FOR ETERNITY.......EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS.....AMEN

Not Nodding Off: An Update

2005-09-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

So, as I said last time, I'm trying to stay alert for those divine appointments. BTW, thanks Milton and Julie for lifting this matter up in prayer. I'm just trying not to let the obvious prayer-needs of others pass unnoticed. And God seems to be directing people into my path. It's a small thing, perhaps, but something I want to remain faithful in. I'm carrying a little notebook in my pocket, writing them down so as not to forget. In the evening the w.o.g. and I lift them up in prayer (along with her own divine appointments from the day). We've been doing this for a few days now. It's very rewarding. Often, just as we are about to start praying, the phone rings, and it's someone with a significant prayer need. Cool, huh?

Don't Nod Off!

2005-09-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been trying to get back to basics in my prayer-life. I've been trying to take a Spiritual inventory each day, listing in my journal the prayer-requests people have made that day, or the instances in which God really seemed to be drawing my attention to something and someone that He wants me to pray about. For too long I've been letting things get by me. God wants us to pray His will into the world in which He's placed us. Prayer is a substantial way that we act as salt and light in this world.

Also, prayer opens our eyes. For a long time I was going through my days in a kind of spiritual blindness or sleep. I wasn't noticing the obvious needs around me. Sometimes you just have to let God pore cold water in your face to wake you up. But of course I realize that even now I'm still only half-awake. We will only be truly "wide-awake" when the Kingdom comes in fullness and power. But when we're responding to divine initiatives, when we're praying for the needs that arise before us each day, a kind of spiritual chemistry takes place. You begin to see the needs more clearly, to pray with more fervor and insight. And non-believers even begin to share their prayer-needs with you (even though very often they don't realize that's what they're doing).

So, well, that's what I'm working on right now. I'm working on keeping awake throughout my day. Not nodding off. Not turning inward and self-absorbed, but looking for those divine encounters and opportunities. Pray for me in this, would you?

My Latest Read

2005-09-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished reading David McCullough's 1776, a fine book about Washington's successful siege of Boston, then the disasterous battle for New York, the calamitous retreat across New Jersey, and the stunning surprise attack on Trenton on Christmas night. But it's more than mere military history. McCullough vividly portrays the daunting nature of the task that Washington and the fledgling Congress in Philadelphia faced. The rebellion was anything but a foregone conclusion. As I read McCullough's book, I kept putting it down and wondering, "How on earth did they ever pull this off?" As McCullough himself says, "The outcome seemed little short of a miracle."

Ears To Hear

2005-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

In response to your question Bob i actually recieved feedback from several people. As you would have guessed there are people who find a certain " raw honesty" in Donald Trumps message. The individuals who liked him said " at least he is real" . The scripture that comes to mind here is Mark 8: 5-8 at the end of the parable of the sower Jesus says " he that hath ears to hear, let him hear". Perhaps in this case it is what the non-believer cannot hear. It is my fervent prayer for non-believers that their eyes and ears would be open to hear and see the truth.
Indeed even as a believer perhaps i need listening lessons. To know the truth, to really allow the words of our precious Lord to take root in my heart. For the word to take root and grow into action for the kingdom of God in my life. To keep my heart in a "fertile condition" ready to receive. Perhaps the most fertile heart is a humble heart. When we are humble we are teachable, when we are teachable we are learning and when we are learning we are growing.

This and That

2005-09-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

Amazing, Tom. The two speeches I mean. How enlightening to hear these two successful men with such differing approaches to life. I wonder about the people in the audience who were not saved, and how they heard these two messages. We know which one seemed more compelling and "victorious" to you, but how about those in the audience who are still struggling to find a path through the wilderness of this world. Perhaps to them Trump made a whole lot more sense than Giuliani. What do you think?

***

Heads up: I've added a couple of blogs to the sidebar. One is Eternal Revolution, which is a group blog (aka "MOBLOG") out of your neck of the woods (Pathways Church in Denver, to be precise). I've just stumbled upon it myself, but it looks like a good one.

I've also added Dave Foster's Fostering Hope. I really love this guy's approach. Dave reminds me of a fellow we both know. There's lots of good reading at his website. For example, his current teaching series is entitled, Being a Renegade for God. But it's the subtitle that really hit me: "Loving God without becoming an arrogant, self-righteous, know-it-all."

Or he might have said, "without becoming a spiritual Donald Trump!"

Two Speeches

2005-09-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

I spent the past two days at a business expo here in Loveland. On Wed i heard a speech and on thurs. i heard a speech. Both speeches were given by well known public speekers from New York City. Wed speaker talked about success $$$$$$ the Thurs. about leadership. Wed speaker was crass, Thurs well spoken. Wed speaker was selfish thurs speaker selfless. Wed speaker spoke of getting even, thurs speaker giving grace. Wed speaker talked about how great he was. Thurs speaker how great his family and friends were. Wed speaker said we should be paranoid thurs speaker said we should be optimistic. Wed speaker lost what little respect i had for him, thurs speaker gained more of my respect. wed speaker was Donald Trump, Thurs speaker was Rudolph Giuliani.

Don't Forget Your Home

2005-09-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

"The world changes; it is never constant but in its disappointments. The world is but a great inn, where we are to stay a night or two, and be gone. What madness is it to set our heart upon our inn, as to forget our home?" Thomas Watson

Hat tip: Daniel Kearns

So here we are . . .

2005-09-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

So here we are then. Two guys, living a couple thousand miles apart, looking to see what friendship and blogging can produce. As for me, I haven't a clue. Although there are many group blogs out there, I don't know about friendship blogs. Is that what this is, Tom? A conversation between two friends, shared with the world.

Okay then, that seems to me to be a quite adequate grounds for blogging. Seeing as how I'm the more experienced blogger here, I thought I'd tip you off as to some fine bloggers I've discovered. You'll notice that Milton left a comment in response to you last post. He's one of the best, in my opinion. His blog is called Trasnforming Sermons, and I'll just make him the first addition to our new blogroll.

Another of our few commenters (so far!) was John of Scotwise. John hails from down under ("Good on ya, Mate!") and is a dedicated evangelistic blogger. I'll add him to our new blogroll as well.

Finally, I draw your attention to Greg Burnett. He's a worship-leader dedicated to the establishing of 24/7 houses of prayer and worship. I think you'll like his attitude, Tom.

There, that'll do for now. Presto change-oh, we have a blogroll! Now, what bloggers would you like to add to the list?

Transparent

2005-09-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

One of the many traits i admire about Bob is his ability to be transparent. He so readily allowed me into his world when i first met him. As i recall in our time together as friends we have spent very little time talking about the weather. It would seem (by the grace of our Abba Father) we have usually communicated at a gut level about things that mean the most us.It is my prayer that this Blog will contain some of the gems that God mines out of two brothers hearts. Two hearts like David and Jonathan that our God has "knit together" 1st Kings 18:1.It is rare to find a Man Of God in the Kingdom like Bob Spencer who shares the joys and pain of life in such a real way.I have grown to have a deep brotherly love and respect for him.I close thanking God for such a dear, rare friend.

Bob's Saturday Pick

2005-09-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

An album of fine worship music. Simple, fervent praise that will stay with you throughout the day. I highly recommend it.

2005-09-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

As i post for the first time it is virtually impossible not to think about/write about the hurricane victims. Events like these have a tendency to make all of my lifes issues seem so microscopic. My problems are lost in the vast chasm of this disaster. Today we must join together and pray. We must invoke the power of our God to bring an end to the lawlessness in New Orleans (the looting and shooting and so forth) and indeed ask full restoration. My next post will contain more about Bob and I and our vision for this blog.......But for now i lift my eyes to the heavens (where our help comes from) Blessed be your holy name Lord God. Heavy hearts cry out to you this day for our countrymen and women who have to endure this disaster. heal our land In JESUS name.

A Start

2005-09-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Experiment: "a course of action tentatively adopted without being sure of the outcome."

This is an experiment in friendship-blogging. We are two friends, seperated by a couple of thousand miles or so. Let's see what can happen when two m.o.g. (men of God) harmonize together in the blogosphere.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Bob