Aaron Ivey Between the Beauty and Chaos

I have always been very thankful for the music, passion, and purpose of Aaron Ivey and all the guys and girls involved. They proclaim the Beauty of Christ in the midst of our chaotic lives. Please support them and buy this album. I promise it will immediately become an album you will listen to over and over for years to come. Every song I have buy these guys (and that is quite a few by now) is a personal favorite of mine.  

Thank you Aaron, Bush, Jimmy, and everyone else I Thank the Lord for using you as he does in your ministry.

We Apologize for the Delay

Sorry for the lack of updates.  i have had a lot i want to talk about but just have not found the time to post them.

Heavenly Father keep me faithful in this endeavor as i hope to proclaim the gospel of your grace.

Gospel Coalition Conference Countdown:  2 days.  Get excited cause i am.  I'm sure I will have a whole lot to post after the conference if my mind does not overload and explode first.

The Blessing of the Inadequate

As this weekend approaches, i am faced with a feeling that for me has become common for this time of year. The past couple years at this time i am overcome with a great feeling of inadequacy. Inadequacy is a word that comes with baggage and very specific connotations for many people. Most of these connotations are negative. For me, my feelings of inadequacy are feelings of peace and joy. As Easter Sunday approaches, i am focsing my heart and mind on the life and death of Jesus Christ. I am thinking about the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for me. i see the great ability of He Who Knew No Sin and in light of this i am left with only one option to truly recognize my own inability, my own sinfulness, my own inadequacy. Yet these feelings cannot be ends in themselves. These feelings are detrimental, unless they lead me to see the Holiness of my Savior.  

This time of year that we as the church have set aside to focus on the death and resurrection of our Savior is a blessing that i pray you take advantage of. Let the gloriousness of our Holy Heavenly Father reveal to you your own inadequacy and from that i pray that you would be able to joyously lift your humbled hands Sunday morning to the One who is Worthy. i pray that you would live your life in the light of knowing that you were called out of darkness and redeemed from your own inadequacy.  

Heavenly Father, use this weekend as a ceremonial time to remind me of my inadequacy and Your Majesty that i may live a life as your humbled servant proclaiming the glories of Your grace.

Monday Musings 4/6

First of all i would like to say that i have always had an aversion to rain.  It is a little depressing.  It is inconvenient (especially when you have to go to class on a college campus like Auburn because there is just no way to avoid getting soaked).  i just do not like it.  But after over three weeks of practically unceasing rain, my aversion has escalated into a strong loathing.  i do not understand how you Seattleits do it.  (Mark Driscoll, your faith must be exceptional to put up with those conditions).  i mean i do understand the pros to rain i just feel they do not out-weigh the cons.

So i saw Wicked on Saturday.  It was...........good.  i actually really enjoyed the show.  Let me take this moment that i have never at anytime--even as a child--liked The Wizard of Oz.  i don't really have anything against it; i just never enjoyed it.  But this in no way prevented my appreciation and enjoyment of a quality off-Broadway production of Wicked at the BJCC with my sweet Catherine.

Sunday morning i was blessed to be at my favorite place with my favorite people.  After attending the High School Senior's Sunday School class for a Q&A on college life.  i was able to attend the 9;30 service where, as always, my pastor, Buddy Gray, brought the Word.  i am blessed and excited any chance i get to hear him preach.  He is in the middle of his series HOPE.  Check out this weeks sermon on I Peter 2:18-20.  It is a very challenging sermon on how Scripture commands us to submit to authority.

Speaking of things to check out:  Hear what Dr. Mohler had to say in a Newsweek cover story, "The End of Christian America".   <>  Very interesting article.   btw: Dr. Mohler will be on CNN tonight at 7pm c/t.

Well that is about all for Monday.  And i should probably be trying to type my 7 page Political Philosophy paper thats due Wednesday instead of this so...

Father, thank you for rain.

Gospel Coalition Conference Countdown: 15 days!!!

Geek Update:  Jon Favreau started filming Iron Man 2 today.  Be excited.

Morning Back Pain and Musicals: A Man in Love

Yesterday i packed a bag, drove 2 hours home to birmingham, and then slept on an uncomfortable couch pushed up against another uncomfortable couch.  Why would i do that you ask? Because a girl i know wanted to go to see Wicked today.  And i happily obliged, because one year ago this past Thursday i started dating this little girl, the love of my life.  The Lord has blessed me with the perfect woman for me.  He so loving created a girl who can patiently put up with all of my quirks (and they are many).  She is my loving support and encouragement.  She is the source of strength that lets me know that i can live the life God has called me to.  i hope i enjoy Wicked, but even if i don't it is a small price to pay for the immense blessing this girl is for my life.  

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for brining Catherine into my world.  Thank you for giving her the ability to put up with me.  Give me the strength to love her and honor her and provide her with the tender care she deserves.  Give me the calm patience to appreciate her and serve her in a manner that reflects my Lord Jesus Christ in order that our relationship brings glory to your name.

Catherine, i love you baby.

Let's Try This Again...

748 days.  That is how long it has been since I have touched this blog.  I was so excited when I started it.  I was able to give it the title I wanted:  surrendered to grace (the whole theme of what I want my ministry to be).  I was going to write all these amazing posts, calling the church out of apathy and into radical reformation.  Well almost 3 years and 6 posts later and so far I haven't made too many strides.

Perhaps one day (grace willing) i will publish such a blog.  But for now i find myself with simpler goals and a (hopefully) more resolute and humble attitude.  i greatly appreciate the roles that a blog can play.  And i find myself wanting to not miss out on what it might do for me.  I have no delusions of thousands who will wake up every morning and log on with the longing desire to see if i have made a new post.  i feel no pressure for radical effectiveness in this outlet of my life ministry.  The only pressure i feel, the only conviction i believe in, the only aspiration i have is to glorify my Sovereign Lord and humbly serve him.  And if this blog is seen only by He who has and will seen all then i pray He finds it to His pleasure as it proclaims his glory.

Heavenly Father, i pray that your glory and your magnitude would find me humbled as a desperate  sinner rescued by your grace.  i pray that my life (including this small outlet of it) would do nothing if it does not bring You glory.  I pray your blessing, that anyone who would read the simple words expressing my journey in life would see only the work of your sovereign hand and the love of Jesus Christ.  To Your Glory God.

Here's to a new adventure...

The Power is in the Message not the Method

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10)

No don't start reading this yet. Go back and read that passage again. It’s a long passage with a lot to it so take the time to read through it one more time. Read it carefully. I'll wait...go ahead and read it again.

Ok now that we've read through this passage a couple times I want to ask a question: Is this the gospel message that we are confessing in our preaching? Is this the message the evangelical church is proclaiming to the world? I am just not sure that the gospel I so frequently hear taught today matches with what I read above. I do not question the passion or love of Christ in the message taught. But I am forced to consider if we are correctly presenting the good news of salvation.

This passage above may be very common to many in the church, but it is not one that is presented to the world very often. This sad fact is simply because most of us, as evangelicals, are to afraid to stray away from the comfort of our worn path of the "Roman's Road" and the crutch of John 3:16. Now I am not denouncing the importance or effectiveness of these God breathed verses. I am however, attempting to express the importance and effectiveness of the rest of scripture (II Timothy 3:16-17). Why do we neglect so much of the Word of God? It is a problem in the lives of many professing believers. It is a problem that is perpetuated by pastors who do not teach the bible and who preach what the church wants to hear rather than what they need to hear. The church has resorted to a David Letterman view of scripture and its gospel. We have a Top 10 of important verses picked out and view the rest as unnecessary for evangelism or spiritual growth. The rest is for pastors and biblical scholars. This cannot be! We must have a gospel that is founded in scripture...ALL of scripture!

Today's gospel seems to find its theme in human responsibility. We are preaching a message that urges people to recognize their role in acquiring salvation (-"God is waiting on you if you will just make the decision." -"Christ died for you so won't you now seek him out and make today the day that you come to him"). And then we glorify man on his achievement in obtaining that salvation. Is this the gospel of scripture? Is this the gospel of grace?

What is more important to the cause of the gospel (reaching souls for Christ)? Is it the message or the method in which the message is presented? Whether you admit it or not, to most of the church it is the latter. We are so proud of all our tried and true methods. We boast in our youth camps and our church revivals and our Easter plays. Again, I am not denouncing the effectiveness of these tools. But we cannot ever present a gospel where the method out weighs the message. We have lost our faith in the redemptive power of the Word of God. We have put more faith in the work of man than in the work of the Holy Spirit. We must desperately turn and run from this way of thinking. The church spends so much wasted time in meetings and planning sessions on new inventive ways of culturally presenting the gospel to the world. We must lose this unbiblical gospel dependant on human responsibility.

Upon whom is salvation dependant? Is it on man or God? Let us look again at our passage above (last time I promise). Most of this passage is written in, what your eighth grade teacher would call, passive voice. What this means is that if we are the subject of the sentences then the actions are being done to us not by us. We are not the initiators and sustainers of the actions. Someone else is doing the action. In this case God is the actor. God loved us. God made us alive. God raised us up. God seated us with Him. God saved us. We are not responsible for surrendering to grace. God by his grace surrenders us. Why do we insist on preaching a gospel that puts the responsibility on man, an utterly depraved and sinful creature? Let us unite in proclaiming the gospel that puts the power and the glory of salvation solely on He who deserves it. Let us focus our faith away from our methods and focus them intently on Jesus Christ and the saving power found in the message of His gospel.

Disciplining Grace

" 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.' It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." ~ Hebrews 12:6-11

What is a disciple without discipline? The true follower of Christ, surrendered to grace, must endure earthly hardships brought about by God's discipline so that he may become sanctified, molded more to the image of Christ.

Fact #1: GOD DISCIPLINES. Scripture clearly reveals that discipline is both necessary and beneficial. This applies to both God Himself and us as humans. It is necessary that God discipline. His holy character requires it. In His perfect and righteous justice, God must discipline his children. Therefore it is necessary that we, as His creatures, submit to it. This is beautiful. For God, in His perfect wisdom and sovereignty, set up a system where He can justly discipline his children while they simultaneously benefit and grow through it. We are sanctified and God is glorified.

Fact #2: GOD DISCIPLINES IN LOVE. Just as God is just, He is love. God's discipline must constantly serve, to us, as a reminder of His love. Because, as Hebrews teaches us, those whom the Lord loves He disciplines (v. 6). Before time (in love) He predestined me, so that at just the right time (in love) He would die for me with the the purpose so that at my time (in love) He could redeem me; and now, according to His time, His work continues (in love) by disciplining me. I must remember that if I am discipline then I am loved.

Fact #3: GOD SUFFERS WHEN HE DISCIPLINES. Everything that was and is and will be and all that happens is for the glory and pleasure of God. However what we must realize is that we do not have a God who joys in our hardships. We do have a God who has perfect knowledge of what is best for His children. He rejoices not in the punishment in itself but in the results it brings about in us. Remember that He suffered the cross for the result of our salvation. (He was pleased to crush Him ~ Isaiah 53:10).

Fact #4: GOD'S DISCIPLINE PROVES OUR ADOPTION. The Lord only disciplines His sons. All are susceptible to His punishment, but only those He has called to adoption are disciplined ("He scourges every son whom He receives" ~ v. 6). This must be a source of encouragement to us. As we are tested and tried under the pressure of the refinery, let us remember that it is because we are under the loving grace of our glorious Father.

Fact #5: GOD'S DISCIPLINE IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. Verse nine says that we must submit to the discipline of God to live. The life surrendered to grace is just that: surrendered. We must be surrendered to the discipline and direction that God has for our lives. If we resist and reject the will of God then the Lord may (justly) take away the very life we are trying to keep for ourselves.

Fact #6: GOD DISCIPLINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLINESS. God is passive in nothing. He is the active creator and sustainer of all. There is perfect purpose in His will. Discipline produces in us a change in character. It strips us of ourselves in order to reveal more of Christ. It lowers and prostrates us so that Christ may be raised and glorified.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." ~ Romans 5:1-5

Grace Means Satisfaction - Resolution 3

Resolved: That I will seek no other comfort or relief but that which solely comes from the glorious grace of God.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." ~ II Corinthians 1:3-5
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:4-7
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." ~ Colossians 3:1

What does it mean to be truly satisfied, to live life completely content, without need, lacking nothing? It is human nature to seek gratification. We strive to be satisfied. And all throughout history man has attempted every conceivable method of achieving his goal. We long to fulfill our needs and, to so many, need seems to be an unquenchable force.
How strong the desires of the flesh are and how weak its resolve. Why do we continually seek satisfaction in the unfulfilling desires of the flesh? It is simply foolishness. Our culture has lowered the standards of pleasure. We have become a fast-food nation that prefers simple, immediate gratification over that which truly nourishes and delights. Like everything else our culture has reduced pleasure to the simplest, crudest, and most immediate forms. People seek satisfaction in TV, food, and other simple irrelevant forms. Sex has become our end all, be all of human satisfaction. People seek after it as the peak of human pleasure. How deceived have we become? Every earthly pleasure is temporary. Their quench dries out and their gratification will cease. But we are offered so much more.
We have been offered the gift of the life that lacks nothing and is filled with pleasure that never ceases. We have been offered the abundant life. We seek so many ways to satisfy ourselves, yet there is only one. Jesus Christ is our gratifier, He is the one who brings true joy. "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
What does it look like to derive all joy and comfort from God? How amazing is it for one to put all his comfort and hope solely in God, not in flesh or family or friends or possessions or activities or emotions that will all fail, but in the holy, eternal Father who never falters? I long for that kind of faith. The faith that cannot see despair or tribulation because it is so focused on the glorious face of Christ. Brothers why must we find this so difficult? Why do so many of us, knowingly seek comfort and pleasure in the unfulfilling things of the world? "The enjoyment of God is the only happiness which our souls can [truly] be satisfied" (Jonathan Edwards). If only we could begin to aspire to that knowledge.
The life surrendered to grace requires service. And yes, the life surrendered to grace will bring suffering. But the life surrendered to grace is the only life and is the only way, the only truth that will bring you unwavering, complete satisfaction. Let us ignore it no longer.

Grace Means Suffering - Resolution 2

Resolved: That every precious moment of my life shall be governed by no other aspiration than suffering for the Gospel and the glory of God, with excelling persistence and joy.

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity" ~ II Timothy 1:8-9
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." ~ I Peter 4:12-13

Suffering and Joy are typically two words that are never used in conjunction with one another in our culture today. These terms are viewed as opposite ends of a spectrum. There are those that say the key to life is to neglect all pleasure and joy and devote oneself to suffering and servitude. The other side says that the key to life is to embrace all pleasure and pursue total gratification. Each side makes a good argument. Unfortunately, neither is Biblical.
I can understand why the lost world can not comprehend it but I cannot understand why the church cannot grasp the wonderful God-placed relationship between the two. John Piper coined a term that I am fond of: Christian Hedonism. It is a term that describes the biblical life style where the believer's sole purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We constantly strive to separate suffering and joy when Scripture is so adamant about keeping the two together. Neither, alone, can bring glory to God. Only when we suffer with joy can we truly praise our Heavenly Father.
The Christian life is about sacrifice. ("But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief." ~ Isaiah 53:10) It centers around the sacrifice of Christ and spreads out to the sacrifices we are called to make. A sacrifice without suffering is not a sacrifice. It is suppose to be hard. But when we allow the Spirit to break our pride we can then truly run through suffering with persistence and joy thereby bringing glory to the Father.
Why do we curse God and complain about our petty issues and angst? We are called to praise and worship Him by embracing every tribulation, every affliction, every adversity, and every torment with rejoicing. Sing praises to God who is Great. Who is above every pain. Worship the One who is the Great Comforter in every trial.
We are called to have the same attitude that was in Christ Jesus. And we are told that Jesus is "the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). Do you see the connection? Christ suffered more than any man ever has or ever will, yet He did it for the joy set before Him. Christ, as God, understood the connection. There is our example. And since we are "fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:17-18)

Grace Means Service - Resolution 1

Resolved: That I will not consent to apathetic behavior, resulting in regression, but in everything I will strive for sanctification through the Spirit.

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." ~ Philippians 2:12-13
"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" ~ I Corinthians 10:31

From the moment of my salvation up to today and for the rest of my life I am under the glorious grace of God. It is by this grace that I am saved. It is by this grace that I have been blessed with everything I have. It is by the gracious blood of Jesus Christ that I can have life and have it in abundance. But it is also because of this grace that I must labor and strive. As born again followers of Christ, we are sovereignly adopted by God and we are sustained and kept according to the kind intention of His will. So then we must glorify Him with our lives. Paul writes these words in Philippians immediately following one of (if not the) greatest image of who Christ was/is and what he did/is doing for us. So then (therefore, hence, ergo, etc.) because of who Christ is and what he has offered us; let us actively worship Him with our lives.
The universe, completely and solely, exists to bring glory to God. This includes all of our lives. The life saved by grace exists not just for the benefit of the saved but for the One Who Saves. It is because of this that we, as Christians, must be convicted to live a life that is pleasing and brings glory to God.
The life surrendered to grace is not a passive one, it is a constant, daily, active life. Paul encourages us to continuously work out our salvation (through prayer, scripture meditation, service etc.) There is a unique relationship found in this seemingly contradictory statement in Phl. 2:12-13. We are called to work out our salvation because God is at work. But if God is at work then why do I need to work? Jerry Bridges said it best: "No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part." God in His sovereign wisdom set up a perfect system whereby He is the source of all things (including our sanctification) but He requires effort on our part. How wonderful is He! The Christian life not only can be, or should be, but must be an active life of joyful service.
"At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Therefore we must not consent to apathetic behavior, resulting in regression, but in everything we must strive for sanctification through the Spirit.

Conviction

"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things...Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all." ~ I Timothy 4:10-11,15
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." ~ Hebrews 11:1

Conviction is a word that is rarely understood in our culture today. We live in a society that bases its choices and beliefs on the feelings and thoughts of the moment. They are fleeting, unstable, and meaningless. So much of America is obsessed with the latest fads and trends. They all jump on the bandwagon of the "new" ideas. We have become so desensitized that nothing bothers us anymore. We are so afraid of being thought of as a fanatical extremist that we just shrug our shoulders at everything we see, whether we disagree or not.
This attitude is plaguing the body of Christ. The church has stopped teaching the importance of conviction. We no longer care. This is the primary source of most of the problems within the church today. Christians are apathetic and lazy. Sin no longer bothers us. We have no drive. We are no longer convicted by the Word.
Thoughts are volatile. Feelings are fleeting. Even beliefs, to a degree, are susceptible to change and alteration. But a conviction is something that is so firm and so founded and so resolute that it demands a response. That foundation has to be in the Word of God. (There is no foundation stronger.) When we let the God-breathed, inspired, Spirit-filled, life-changing Scriptures penetrate into our stubborn minds and let them permeate into our very hearts and are "absorbed in them" we will find the strength and conviction to live a consistent life surrendered to the grace of God. When we fix our hope on the living God, we will begin to live the life that labors and strives to serve without hesitation and without regret (and through that will find true satisfaction and joy).
God is perfectly holy and is incapable of accepting anything less than that. This means that God has a certain standard (perfection) and is unwilling to accept anything less. He has placed the same demand and standard on us. (Now we are only capable of approaching that standard through the gracious blood of Christ). But the question is: If God has this standard why do we not demand the same? God expects the best; so we should all strive for the best and ask the same of our brothers and sisters in the body. That is conviction. When you are willing to say, "Yes God, whatever it takes and nothing less." When you "take pains" to live up to your convictions because no matter how hard, it would be more painful to ignore it. Why should we have conviction? It is in the passage above: "So that your progress will be evident to all." The world will see Christ through your convictions. They will see His greatness and love when they see how far you are willing to go and how boldly you are willing to stand for a faith.