Take the Blindfold Off - You Are in the Light

Latest Growing in Grace program is ready for downloading/listening. The Bible talks about Christians being in the light. The problem is, many Christians live as if they must do something or maintain a certain amount of righteous living in order to be in the light. We discuss this a little bit this week as we "shed light" on the truth of the New Testament scriptures that show how it's by God's grace that we've been placed into the light already. Nothing we've done has placed us there, and nothing we do can keep us there or remove us from being in the light of Jesus Christ. In fact, the more we grow in the truth of who we already are, the more we'll begin to naturally walk like who we are.

gigcast.graceroots.org

Recover Your Good Heart - Free study guide offer - limited time

Author Jim Robbins has posted a special offer on his site, good through December 12th. If you purchase his book, Recover Your Good Heart, he will send you an email with a free download of the Study Guide that accompanies the book. Click this link for the details. This is a good deal for you, whether you'd like to join in with my upcoming online study of the book or if you'd like to study it on your own or with another group!

Recover Your Good Heart - online study update

Just over a month ago I posted a review of Jim Robbin's book Recover Your Good Heart and then a few days later I posted links to not only the book, but also to an accompanying Study Guide. I suggested the idea of doing some sort of online study and I received some positive feedback, and now it's time to start putting this in motion. My thought is to try to begin the study on the second Sunday in January - the 11th, and meet online on consecutive Sundays. Perhaps beginning at 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific, for about an hour. This is all tentative, and is subject to change, but is a rough idea so we can see who this might work for.

The study guide has ten chapters, and my thought is to try to discuss 1 or 2 chapters worth of material every week. That is, each Sunday we can discuss a chapter or two, depending upon how quiet or 'talkative' people are! The format... I think the easiest thing would be to go with Yahoo Messenger. This may change as well, but right now that's what I'm thinking of.

So... who's up for this?! Check out Jim's site to order the book and Study Guide. The Study Guide, by the way, is available in book form OR as a download. I'll post a separate blog after this one that points to Jim's special offer of a free download of the Study Guide when you purchase the book, through December 12th.

Eric Champion - Endless

Oh, My love is endless
I'll be with you for eternity
My love is endless
Never failing, everlasting
Endless love

Sale on Grace Walk resources through December

Just a heads up to anyone who's interested. Via the Grace Walk mailing list I received an email the other day saying that all of Steve McVey's materials on the Resources section of the Grace Walk site are available at a 20-50% discount through December. Check out the site for confirmation on which items are discounted.

One of the current deals that I see on the site that I highly recommend is the bundle of Grace Walk, Grace Rules and Grace Amazing for $24 (three books for the price of 2). By the way, I'm not a paid salesman for any of this! I simply wholeheartedly believe that this bundle (or any of the other resources) would be a wonderful gift to give to others or to have for yourself if you don't already.

By the way, I have an edition of the book Grace Amazing under its former title, Grace Land (so it's a 'collectors edition' hehehe)... and the bidding starts at $400. Ha ha... just kidding!

Just say NO to religion!

It's easy to see that there are many, many religions in the world. But... God never intended for mankind to live by religion! Christ didn't even come to start the Christian religion. The word "religion" itself appears in the Bible only four or five times, usually with a negative connotation. The Apostle Paul talked about his past religious life that he converted from (see Acts 25:19, 26:5). He converted from religion to LIFE. In Colossians 2:20-23 he talked about the do's and dont's that people try to live by (he called them the "principles of the world"), and he said "these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion... but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."

Paul talked in great detail about his former life in the Old Covenant religion, and how he came to the realization that, in my own words, all of his Old Covenant religious training really showed him that all the religion in the world would never and could never please God! Religion is not what God wants from us or for us. James is the only one who used the word "religion" in a positive light, in James 1:26-27, and I believe he was simply showing an example of what Life looks like when expressed outwardly.

When God created Adam and Eve, did He say, "be fruitful and multiply... and make sure you're very religious people?" Of course not! He gave them a choice, though. The choice, if you'll let me word it this way, was a choice between life and religion. The Tree of Life was there for them to eat freely from, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was there as well. The latter tree - the tree that opened them up to religion (the knowledge of right and wrong) - is the one He didn't want them to eat from. But they ate from that religion tree... and forfeited LIFE. Their first act of religion? They tried to cover their 'shame' with fig leaves.

Since that fateful day, there has never been ONE ACT of religion that has ever brought man closer to God. There is no act of religion that has ever restored man to Life. Why doesn't God want our religion? Because it doesn't work! Our very best religion is filthy to Him (Isaiah 64:6). God Himself is the one who brought us near to Himself... not through religion, but through the death and resurrection of a Person - Jesus. Through Jesus, God restored us to Life... after having killed us to religion.

God created you, not for religion, but for Life. He loves you, and He doesn't desire your "sacrifices and offerings" (Hebrews 10:8). He wants YOU... just because He loves you!

Al Denson - Say It With Love

I don't know if there's any way to tell for sure, but I think this video is from the 90's... ;)

Al Denson - Say It With Love

My cup runneth over

Found this the other day while I was looking for something else. I like it. Simple, peaceful, relaxing.

There's no 'Space In Between Us'

I've embedded a video here by the group Building 429. I like the group, but I admit that I'm actually posting this because of the lyrics in this particular song that I don't like. It's not my intention at all to put down the writers or performers of the song. My purpose here is to make a point about how some well-meaning teachings in the church - even teachings that include some grace in it (the song speaks of grace) - can actually represent a deficient version of the gospel that keeps Christians from understanding and walking in the fullness of Christ's life and God's grace. Please - again - I'm not trying to put anyone down here. This popular song (on Christian radio) is simply useful to me in illustrating a point.

The chorus of the song goes:

All I really want to do is to fall into
The emptiness that is
The space in between us
To break this division
All I really want to do is to fall into
The emptiness that is
The space in between us
Erase it and bring us together again

Why would I say that words like these represent a deficient gospel? Well, let me ask you, what space is there - really - between you and God? What division? What emptiness? Are you really apart from God and need to be brought back together with Him again? Is that what the New Covenant scriptures really tell us about ourselves?

Ephesians 2:13 says that we have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ. Hebrews 10:19-23 says that it's by His blood that we have boldness to "enter the Most Holy Place" and that we can experientially "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." 1 Corinthians 6:17 says that we have been made one spirit with Him.

The gospel - the good news - is that we have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! (Romans 1:16-17, 2 Cor 5:21). Were we made righteous by our own good works? Were we brought near to God by our own works? Of course not! Therefore, if we sin, can those works make us unrighteous again, or keep us away from God? Of course not! It's all by the blood of Jesus, and not by how well or poorly we've performed. Think about it - when you've sinned, which is bigger - your sin or God's grace? Grace always wins, friends!

We sell ourselves short - our new-creation spirits - when we think anything we do separates us from God. Worse than that, we sell God's very gospel itself short. Is His gospel what He says it is, or isn't it!

There is a very important reason why I always want to always help people become established in all of this. If we, as Christians who have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus, think there's a space or a gulf or a gap in between us and God, then we'll live as if there's a space or a gulf or a gap in between us and God. Instead of living as who we truly are - accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6), having peace with God (Rom 5:1) - we'll live as if we're separated from Him and as if He's angry with us or is waiting for US to do something to get ourselves "right with Him" - when it was never up to us in the first place (!), and, more importantly, when we never lost our right standing and our union with Him anyway!

Grace, the blood of Jesus, the NEW covenant, the NEW life we received in Christ - all of this changed EVERYTHING! There's no more separation from God. There's no more walking on eggshells, trying to keep ourselves in right standing with God. There's no more fear of Him hiding His face from us. His grace has accomplished everything that is needed. As we grow in our understanding of who we truly are in Him by grace alone through faith, we can trust more and more that God's grace and our daily renewing of our minds to all the wonderful truth of the Good News of the New Covenant - will continuously be at work in us, keeping us securely in Him.

Don't hope for what you already have! And don't wish for some space to be filled when there's no space there in the first place!

Related post: Jesus will never take you back

Brought Near - We Are In The Light

Latest Growing in Grace program is ready for downloading/listening. Christ came to take away sin (John 1:29), and we have been brought near to God by His blood (Eph 2:13), not by our works (Titus 3:5). He has taken us out of darkness and we are in the light! Does that fact change when we sin, or when we waste our lives in prodigal living? This week Mike and Joel continue talking about the parable of the prodigal son, his older brother and his father (Luke 15:11-32), and we discuss which one of the three had the proper perspective about both sons’ standing with the father. Sometimes our thoughts, emotions, actions, behavior, etc, may cause us to feel as if we’re not in the light, but we always need to remember that it’s God’s grace that has brought us into the light and keeps us there! With the proper perspective, we’ll grow more and more into who we truly are as children of the light (Eph 5:8-10).

gigcast.graceroots.org

Third Day - Forever

Your grace is never gonna change
And Your faith, it always will remain
And Your love is the same yesterday, today and forever...

Steve Vai - For the Love of God

Would've liked to have been at this concert. Steve Vai performs "For The Love of God" live with the Holland Metropole Orchestra, 2005.

Steve McVey interview from 1997

A few years back I was going through some old, used cassette tapes that I'd brought home from the radio station that I worked at, and I came across this interview that my friend (and cohost of Growing in Grace) Mike Kapler had with Steve McVey in February, 1997. Steve was coming to town for a Grace For Life's Hurts seminar. In this interview they talked a little bit about the Grace Walk book (which was only a couple of years old at the time) and also about the upcoming seminar. Steve talks about dealing with the emotional hurts and pain that we deal with, and how it affects our lives, and how grace and forgiveness brings us to a place of healing, joy and freedom.

Just thought it might be interesting to post this.

Hammered Dulcimer - Rich Mullins and Third Day

Third Day - Praise Song (Rich Mullins on Hammered Dulcimer)


Rich Mullins - Creed (Rich Mullins on Hammered Dulcimer)
-I have the accompaniment tape for this song. It's such beautiful music that I often listen to just the soundtrack. Sometimes with my eyes closed and tears streaming down my cheeks, and sometimes with my arms in the air and a huge smile on my face.
-I love the children smiling near the end of the video, and Rich's playful interaction with them.
-Did I mention, I love the sound of the hammered dulcimer?

Law keeper? Law breaker?

As a Christian, do you keep God's law? Do you break His law?

The answer to both is "no!"

As a Christian, do I keep God's law (am I a law-keeper)? You might see me walking righteously - not stealing, not committing adultery, honoring my parents, loving my neighbor as myself, etc, and you might say, "See, you're keeping God's laws!" To which I'd say, "No, I'm not!" I'm not looking to God's law as the source of my righteous living at all. Rather, what you see is an expression of the Life of Christ in me. I'm not following the law, I'm not keeping the law. What you see is me walking according to the Spirit of Christ who lives in me and who is my life.

As a Christian do I break God's law (am I a law-breaker)? You might see me doing unrighteous things - stealing, committing adultery (Matthew 5:28, anyone?), not honoring my parents, not loving my neighbor as myself, etc, and you might say, "See, you're breaking God's laws!" To which I'd say, "No, I'm not!" What you see is an expression of my flesh acting out in independence, rather than me walking according to my true identity in Christ and my union with Him.

In Christ I'm not a law keeper and I'm not a law breaker. I have died to the law. The only way I could "live to God" in the first place was to die to the law! How can I 'keep' or 'break' what I've died to? In fact that old written code was "wiped out." It was against me (no matter how well I kept it or how badly I broke it), and God took it out of the way, removing it completely. He nailed it to the cross. My life is no longer defined by law keeping or law breaking. My life is now defined by the Life of Christ in me, and nothing else! How has this become one of the church's best kept secrets???

Col 2:13-14
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Gal 2:19-21
19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Matthew is On the Loose!

With Matthew getting his driver's license today, here's a fair warning to all: Watch out - he's ON THE LOOSE!

No one can stop you now
Tonight you're on the loose
No one can tell you how
Tonight you're on the loose!

Hammered Dulcimer

This post might just be for me alone, but I really like the sound that comes from this instrument.

Heaven (Bryan Adams' song)

No Longer Identified By Sin

[No Longer Identified By Sin]

In the second of twenty articles that I wrote for Heartland Vineyard Church between 2005 and 2007, I decided to "introduce" myself to the rather large congregation. However, while I did mention some details about me and the activities in my life at the time, the main purpose was not to talk about "me," but to point to the Christian's identity as "saint" and not "sinner." (Note: I fully understand the difference in opinion among my friends here of the interpretation of the Apostle Paul's words about "sin that dwells in me." That's all right, and it's not the focus of this article).

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Hi, I’m Joel Brueseke. It has been no less than a wonderful, joyful experience for the past 5 years for my wife and I to worship with and connect with the various parts of Christ’s body who call the Vineyard their home, as we do. Along with our two children, Jared and Noelle, we thank God daily in our prayers for extending our family by a couple of thousand people! I work part time at Covenant Medical Center as a Courier and I work part time at the New 89.1-The Spirit (aka KWOF-850AM in Waterloo). You might know me as Joel Sommers on the radio, and if you do know me in that capacity, my sincerest apologies!

As I share a little bit more about myself, I’ll use someone else’s words to describe my thoughts:

“I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Paul, in Galatians 2:19-21, The Message)

My friend Mike Kapler (also with KWOF and this church) has often brought up that we humans tend to identify ourselves by what we “do.” You find out what other people “do” and you tell them what you “do.” “I’m a salesman.” “I’m a hairdresser.” “I do construction work.” “I work in radio.” “I race cars.” “I’m a pastor.” “I work in a factory.” In introducing myself above, I first told you what I “do.” But because what I do is generally the fruit of who I am, or even the fruit of who I perceive I am, I first want to grow in and be grounded in who I am.

The Bible says that my identity – who I am – is not “me” anymore! When I was born, I was identified with Adam and unfortunately it was a life which didn’t quite cut the mustard when it came to being right with God. So, as an act of His great love for us, God made a way for all of us who were born in Adam to be “born again” into Christ. But in order become this “New Creation,” as Paul phrases it in II Cor. 5:17 and Gal. 6:15, it was necessary for the old “me” to die. So, that identity was crucified with Christ. It is dead and buried, expired, six feet under, bereft of life, pushing up daisies. It’s rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. It’s stone dead. (Thanks to a Monty Python skit for those synonyms for DEAD!) My new identity (who I really, actually am) is identified by the very life of Christ in me.

Plainly put, before coming to Christ we were identified as “sinners.” Now, after coming to Christ by faith, we have a new identity as saints! As Bill Gillham writes in his book, “What God Wishes Christians Knew About Christianity,” and as our pastor has often said, we are not “sinners saved by grace.” It is grace alone which has saved us, but now in addition to having been forgiven of our sins, we have been made holy, blameless and righteous - saints! That is actually, factually what God has made us to be! He doesn’t just “see” us as holy and righteous. We are holy and righteous.

We do contain the capacity to sin, and the reason is that sin dwells “in” us (see Rom. 7:17,20). The good news is that we are not identified by what is in us but rather by who we actually are! When you have a virus “in” you, you don’t say “I am a virus” or “I am a runny nose and swollen tonsils.” What is in you might temporarily have power over your bodily functions, but it does not define who you are. In Christ, sin doesn’t define us. We are defined as a saints. Nothing we “do” can change that identity, just as nothing we did created that identity in the first place. It was all the work of God and it will always continue to be the work of God. The prodigal son didn’t lose his identity as a son, even when he went off and squandered his inheritance.

The book mentioned above says, “Believe you are a ‘sinner saved by grace’ and you’ll act like one; believe you are a holy, purified saint who admittedly sins at times, but who hates that life-style, and you’ll be highly motivated to act like such a saint.” Our new life in Christ is lived by trusting and resting in what God has already done, and in His very life which is in union with ours!

The answer is always B - 11/18/08 - Decrease or Increase

What's the correct wording of Romans 5:20?

A. The law was added so that sin might decrease. Because where sin is increased, law is needed all the more.

B. The law was added so that sin might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.*

C. "Increase your giving to ma ministray and I will surely be blessed." - The Extra Very Reverend J. Slick Breeze.

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*Bonus addendum to "B." I like the way The Message words it: All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down.

Which tree do you choose?

You can choose to live from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or from the Tree of Life.

But you can't choose both!

Which ONE will it be?

Can Sin Hinder Your Fellowship With God?

Latest GIGCast is up. Can sin hinder your fellowship with God? We take a look at who we are in Christ (the righteousness of God) and we also begin to look at the different perspectives of the three "characters" in the Luke 15 parable commonly known as "The Prodigal Son." In addition to the prodigal son, there are two other people in the story - the older son and the father. Which one of these people had the proper perspective of the whole situation? There's so much good news in the scriptures to dig into! We talk about how sin can truly affect our circumstances, and even our fellowship with one another as human beings - but does that mean it affects our fellowship with God?

gigcast.graceroots.org

Fallen from grace (repost)

Originally posted here, January 9, 2007.

Gal 5:1-7
5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? NASB

"You were running well," Paul says to the body of Christ at Galatia. "You had rejected the works of the law (self-righteousness) in order to come to know Jesus by His grace and you were living your daily life in the same way, by grace and not by trying to maintain your salvation by your own works. So what's going on? Who has kept you from obeying the truth that you started in?"

"You know that if you try to keep even one ounce of the law," Paul tells them, "then you are obligated to keep the whole thing - every jot and every tittle (see James 2:10). But that's not what God called you to do. You had to die to Mr. Law in order to be married to Mr. Grace (Rom 7:4) (thanks to Steve McVey for the "Mr. Law/Mr. Grace" word picture). But now you're going back to the old way? You're trying to mix law and grace? You're thankful for Jesus, but yet you're thinking that it's your own works that somehow will keep you justified?"

"You have fallen from grace!"

The Galatians had known the truth. They had lived in the truth. They had trusted solely in the name of Jesus - in God's grace - for their justification and salvation. But some legalists had slipped in among them and were trying to persuade them that they had to keep the law.

"But," Paul said, "we through the Spirit eagerly await for the hope of righteousness by faith," not by our own efforts. If you have fallen from grace, get back up and put your whole confidence in Jesus, and Jesus alone. His grace holds all the power that our self-effort could never achieve. Remember you are married to Mr. Grace. Get out of that adulterous relationship with Mr. Law!

Desperate Housewives: "The church isn't a place for questions..." ;)

Saw this over at on coffee a few weeks ago. I've perhaps watched a grand total of 5 minutes of Desperate Housewives in my life (including this 3:22 clip) (I much preferred Teri Hatcher's role as Lois Lane in Lois and Clark and Jamie Denton as Mr. Lyle in The Pretender), but I thought this was rather revealing. :)

(caution: a tiny bit of 'language' in one part)

God So Loved

Jaci Velasquez - God So Loved

Updated blog list

A little shop talk.

In case you haven't seen it, I added the Blog List gadget to the side of my blog the other day, as well as the "Followers" gadget. (I formerly had some blogs linked to using my own HTML). I don't necessarily like the word "Followers" in this respect (perhaps "Readers" would be better?). But nevertheless my main purpose in using these features is simply because over the past couple of years I've seen how blogging has connected various people around the world, and to me this is simply one more way for people to connect. I'm also planning an update to my list of websites when I can get around to it.

I also want to say that my list is somewhat diverse, and they're listed according to "most recently updated." It includes 'real life' friends and family, as well as many people who I've met only through blogging and online forums. I, of course, read a lot of blogs that are based upon grace and freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ and I also read various other blogs that have other aspects to them that interest me. In say all this as kind of a disclaimer. My list is not necessarily an endorsement of all these blogs (around 70 at the present time) and neither do I believe all these people would necessarily endorse this blog. :)

By the way, if you know that I regularly read your blog, and/or if you comment here on this blog, and your name is not on my blog list - please let me know! I took only a little bit of time to import the feeds from my feed reader into Google Reader and then into the Blog List, and I had a some difficulties along the way and I just didn't have time to make sure I had every last blog added. If you're not there, there's a 99% chance that it was an accident.

In case you're wondering - No I don't read ALL these blogs every day! One obvious reason is that many of them don't get updated every day. But also, with limited time, I kind of scan the headlines and pick and choose what I actually read out of the ones that are updated frequently. Some of you who are closer friends - I do read all your blog posts.

Happy blogging!

Grace and Love

Latest GIGCAST is up. This week we talk a little more about how "grace" is not simply one subject of many, but is the essence of every aspect of the Christian life and we talk about the biblical idea of what it means to have fallen from grace by going back to trusting in our own works. Along with all this, we talk about how God's unconditional love cannot be separated from His grace, and how growing in our understanding of God's love can change our entire mindset of who He is and who we are in Him.

gigcast.graceroots.org

If you don't like the weather in Iowa...

They say if you don't like the weather in Iowa, just wait 'cause it'll soon be different. Tru dat.

On Monday of this week, I drove by and saw some of my friends sitting on their front porch in shorts and t-shirts - probably sipping on some nice cold iced tea. The temperature was in the upper 70's. At the time I thought about stopping and taking a photo.

Now I really wish I would've taken that pic, because then I'd be able to contrast Monday's weather with what we woke up to on Friday morning. From upper 70's to lower 30's - and a nice layer of snow on the grass and trees. (The pavement is not yet cold enough for snow to stick). The snow was nice and wet - perfect for snowballs! The kids really had some fun before headnig off to school. But within hours, while it was still flurrying and even snowing heavier at times, it had all melted off of the ground. At least we're not in the Dakotas. 40 inches of snow, from what I hear!

Trust His Heart

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart

"The Unforgiven" (repost)

I first posted this about a year and a half ago, which is before I got to know a lot of you. Some comments about freedom and prison walls on another post from today reminded me of this song, so I just thought I'd repost a shorted version of this post.
____________________

About 3 or 4 years ago, I was listening to "The Black Album" (by Metallica). I was brought to tears, not only by the music, but by the lyrics of one particular song. I had never really paid much attention to what the lyrics of any of their songs actually meant, but this one really captured me on this day. I cried for what my life might have been, if not for people having told me about God's grace, and helping me out of the bondage of religion and its many effects. I cried for people who are still trapped in deadly religion.

I understand if you don't care for the music, so perhaps the lyrics will get the point across. But there is something about the "mood" of the music that adds to the emotion and the intensity of the subject matter, so I invite you to watch it if you want to. Don't worry, you won't have to brace yourself too much. It's one of Metallica's "slower" songs. :)

Metallica - The Unforgiven


New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules

With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me...

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Wont see what might have been

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven

The Who - Boris the Spider

Just for kicks!

I personally first heard this song back in the early 80's on the Dr. Demento radio program.

The Who - I'm Free

I heard this song on the radio the other day. I've always wondered exactly what the lyrics said, and what was the story behind the song, so I looked it up (see below).



From songfacts.com:

This was part of The Who's Rock Opera Tommy. Tommy is free because his mother smashed the mirror that he was kind of trapped in. He always gazed at his reflection and this was the only thing he could really see. Now Tommy wants his disciples to follow him ("How can we follow?") and says he's their Messiah.

Lyrics:

I'M FREE-I'm free,
And freedom tastes of reality,
I'm free-I'm free,
And I'm waiting for you to follow me.

If I told you what it takes
to reach the highest high,
You'd laugh and say "nothing's that simple"
But you've been told many times before
Messiah's pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple!

I'm free-I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality

I'm free-I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me.

Chorus:
How can we follow?
How can we follow?

Hmm... Someone finds freedom and wants to share it with everybody! But perhaps others are still stuck on what was keeping them in captivity? So... what to do?

Keep on preachin' freedom, brothers and sisters! And keep on living it out unabashedly and unashamedly!

God

Acts 17:23-29
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

My vote: On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

63+ million people waking up today enthused and refreshed. 55+ Million people waking up depressed and perplexed. So many hopes and fears hanging on the results of an election that just happened to take place during the short time they lived on this earth.

Don't get me wrong... I understand it all! I'm in no way naive about or oblivious to the issues or the candidates. I've paid close attention for several years now. And I don't think it's wrong to work hard for what you believe in, even in the political realm - if and when the Lord leads through His life in you. And so... this post isn't about what you should or shouldn't do, politically speaking, according to what you see going on in this world.

Rather, I'm simply hoping to draw the focus away from trusting in politics or the systems that are in place in this world... to trusting in One Person. The three in one. The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit. There's been a lot of talk about hope and change. There's been a lot of talk about fear as well. What is your hope really in? What do you fear and why are you afraid?

Perhaps let me put it this way. Lets to go the extremes. The President-elect of the United States of America is Barack Obama. On the one hand you have people who believe this country is now on a path that leads from the frying pan into eternal fire and destruction. On the other hand you have people who believe this country is now saved and is on a clear path to healing. Again, I'm talking 'extremes' here, so please bear with me on that for the sake of discussion. Indeed, people have all kinds of hopes, fears, expectations, feelings of disappointment, etc, in regards to this election.

So... what if one of those scenarios turns out to be absolutely true? What if the election of Barack Obama leads to the absolute worst conditions the people of this country has ever seen? Or what if everything is restored and we see the best possible conditions come about?

Is our hope and/or fear to be in these kinds of things? Again, I'm not trying to make a case for sitting still and saying "C'est la vie" or "Que sera sera," and burying your head in the sand until Jesus returns. "Action" (no matter how you define it in a political sense) is not what this post is about.

I'm really trying to point out that ever since the eternal God (Father, Son and Spirit) created man, God has always remained God. He has always remained sovereign. He has always been Lord of all. The world and everything in it belongs to Him. He has never missed a beat. There has never been a king, a president, a leader or an authority of any sort, who has been above Him or has been able to usurp His power or thwart His plans. The fate of the world, on the one hand, has been influenced negatively by every living person since Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but on the other hand has never really been in our hands because God has made redemption and restoration to Life His mission and joy - and His mission cannot and will not fail... no matter WHAT!

God was still in control when Herod had all the children under two years old killed. When the king sent Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego into the fiery furnace. When Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. When the crowd yelled for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus. When Stephen was stoned to death. When Jerusalem was destroyed.

God was in control when the children of Israel were mighty in battle. God was in control when they escaped Pharaoh's army as the Red Sea was parted. When David triumphed over Goliath. When people sought to kill the Apostle Paul and yet the disciples let him down through the wall in a large basket. When Jerusalem was rebuilt.

There are so many billions (and billions and billions) of examples throughout history that testify to the sovereignty of God and His commitment to His purposes, and His ability to carry them out no matter what!

Say what you will about what I'm saying here, but I'm convinced that our lives have never been in the hands of politics, governments and political leaders, but have always, without fail, been in the hands of the Loving and Grace-ful God who created us and works endlessly to restore people to true Life, which is found only in one place, in one way, in one Person - Jesus the true and only Messiah. And this has always been true no matter what the circumstances have been.

Is the U.S. government system something that God set up? I won't answer that question directly, because I honestly don't know (no matter what the founders said), but I want to point out one huge difference between the Kingdom of God and the "kingdom" of the United States and its government. The U.S. government is (supposedly) "of the people, by the people, for the people." Can God work in and through the people of that system? Certainly. BUT... when it comes to our ultimate hope and trust, we are part of a Kingdom that is of God, by God and for God.

If you're happy today because of the election, then please enjoy your happiness! If you're sad, please remember that there is One who comforts. However, I will say that if our emotions go up and down all our lives, based upon our hopes and fears in MAN, then I believe we have somehow misplaced our trust. No matter what, please remember that Christ Himself is the solid rock on which we stand. ALL other ground is sinking sand! That's the point of this.

I'm just being honest with the way I see things after having come to this point in my grace journey. If you're happy today because of the winner, that's all fine and dandy but quite honestly my hope with this post is to DEFLATE your euphoria that has come a result of a leader who will govern for a BLIP in comparison to all of eternity. And if you're sad today, my hope is to bring you back around to TRUSTING in the only one who can give you - and the world - true hope and salvation. Imagine if you laid down all these fears and hopes that were based upon the promises of mere human beings, and instead your true hope, joy and peace was in the One who created you and loves you and has the ENTIRETY of your life in his more than capable hands!

Grace is not just a subject

On our latest Growing and Grace program (Grace - The Foundation and Essence of Life in Christ), my friend Mike and I talk about how grace is not merely one subject of many in the Christian life, but is the foundation and essence of every aspect of our life in Christ. Along with our program, I thought I'd post an article that I wrote about 2 1/2 years ago for a church publication, since I think it goes along well with our discussion. I originally posted the article on this blog, on which you'll find all 20 article that I wrote over a period of 2 years.

The Sufficiency of Grace Can you believe it? I actually used to think God’s grace was a part of the Christian life! I thought of it as one of those many topics in the Christian life like obedience, good works, wisdom, devotion, ministry, forgiveness, holiness, giving, discipleship, and so on and so forth. Grace, to me, was a subject worth visiting now and then, especially when I’d messed up pretty bad. But I no longer think of grace as a “part” of the Christian life.

Rather than one topic of many, I believe grace is the ESSENCE of the whole Christian life! Do we really think we’re adequate to live any moment of our life in Christ apart from grace? I love reminding others (and being reminded myself) that we’re saved and “justified freely” by His grace. I have no problem sitting and soaking in that good news for hours on end! But what if the application of grace went even farther than forgiveness and knowing we’ll go to heaven? In the past I’ve been thankful for God’s grace, but it was basically kept “on the shelf” until I thought I needed it (when I sinned). The Bible does more than simply hint at a complete necessity for grace in the 24/7 living of the Christian life.

For example, when it comes to spiritual gifts Paul tells us that we’re each gifted differently “according to the grace given us.” In speaking of his own spiritual growth and ministry Paul writes, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain, but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” Elsewhere he testifies, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.”

Was Paul saying, “I put forth my best effort and grace covered the rest?” To me it seems more like, “Every single thing I did was solely the result of grace working in me.” “This is our boast,” he affirms, “our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.” Paul’s boast in his accomplishments wasn’t really a boast in his accomplishments! It was a testimony to the power of grace. His devotion to his call, his understanding of the gospel, his abundant labor in the Lord, his servanthood, his persistence, his humility, his… you name it, wasn’t sustained for a moment by his own strength, striving or abilities.

Rather than a “strong Christian,” I see Paul reckoning himself as a weak person with complete dependence upon grace. Can you relate? I can! Paul even went so far as to say “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” The more we yield to grace, the more Paul’s additional testimony and confession of “when I am weak, then I am strong” makes sense! Words like these demonstrate the 180 degree turnaround from his former trust in his fleshly strengths that he recalls (and deems as DUNG!) in Philippians 3. Trying to stir up the flesh in order to make a good outward showing was off limits to Paul. All arrows point inwardly to the Spirit of God who dwells in us and to His grace that powerfully works in us. Paul’s exhortations for the body of Christ are infused with phrases like “according to the Spirit,” “by the power of the Spirit,” “through Christ,” “Christ in you” and countless mentions of grace. What else, besides yielding to grace, can enable us with power for Christian living!

I’ve sometimes been known as the “grace” guy. There goes Joel with that grace stuff again! I guess I just can’t see how the Christian life can bear any fruit apart from full submission to the grace of God. To do Kingdom work, I believe we must all be “grace” people! By His grace, God embellishes us with His own beauty. His life is inextricably woven into ours. His grace is the source of our life, our being and ultimately our actions. This is something we can rest in. As we take the focus off ourselves and turn to trusting in His grace we can be assured that rather than passivity our lives will be fully animated by Him – in His way and in His timing! The Lord Himself described the fullness of the power of His grace: “Sufficient.”

(Verses quoted: Rom 3:24, Rom 12:6, 1 Cor 15:10, Eph 3:7, 2 Cor 1:12, 2 Cor 12:9-10)

Grace - The Foundation and Essence of Life in Christ

For many people, it seems that "grace" is just another topic or just another Christian doctrine, or is simply one "part" of the Christian life. This week Mike and Joel discuss how grace is not simply a topic that should be taught on now and then, but is the very foundation of life in Christ and is the very essence of our daily lives in Him. The gospel (good news) is Grace, and Grace is a Person named Jesus. Hebrews 13:9 says "it is good that the heart be established by grace."

Related article: The Sufficiency of Grace

gigcast.graceroots.org

From internet to interstates - Ohio - Summer 2009!

I can't tell you all how wonderful it's been to get to know you by interacting through blogs, comments, emails, phone calls, etc! The internet has been such a great tool that has allowed so many of us to connect with each other and share the life of Christ and His Grace with one another. Since we're all scattered around the U.S. and the rest of the world, we obviously can't be in the same "space" together most of the time.

But this summer we want to change that, if only for a few days! Thanks to RJW (Better Than We Know) and a few others who have helped to start this ball rolling, we're planning an extended weekend get-together (most likely Friday thru Sunday) sometime in the summer of 2009 (most likely the last weekend in June) in a community called Lakeside in northern Ohio (north of Sandusky, near a town called Marblehead - see map below), and we want as many of you as would like to be a part of this, to be a part of this!

No matter where you live, if you are in any way involved in our growing online community (hopefully you feel a part of it, and not excluded in any way), whether as a blogger or as someone who comments, or if you're a lurker (you read but don't generally comment or interact)... or if you're a "real life" friend or family member of any of us... we'd love to have you there to be a part of our huge "group Grace hug," as RJW calls it!

The purpose of this is mainly to be able to meet and chat with each other in person! It's also possible that you may even want to extend your own personal time there into some sort of family vacation, as there are lots of things to do in the area, including Cedar Point amusement park, beaches, ferry rides to nearby islands, etc.

As I said, RJW (Ryan and Jamie) have really gotten this rolling and you can find their "invitation" here. (Consider this post as your invitation as well!). Check out the Lakeside link above for more info on lodging and such, and if you have any questions or would like to let us know you're coming, feel free to contact me by commenting here or emailing me (address on side column) or by contacting RJW. Now is the time to plan this, although we'll be sure to remind you in the months to come in case you're needing time to think about this and talk it over with family and friends!


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