Part of my homework for BSF was to share what we'd sing to God and although it wasn't intended to be a literal song, really, I thought it was a good opportunity to praise Him with another attempt at hymnody.
The content coincides with the chapter we discussed yesterday in my Sunday school study of The Reason For God by Timothy Keller. The chapter, "The Problem of Sin," explains how sin is essentially finding one's identity in anything but God.
The rain outside my house
tapped softly on my door
My treasured comfort You would douse
I feared if I explored.
So I kept myself in safety dry,
among my idols near,
and studied rain in holy books,
my wisdom lacking fear.
I danced in puddles from Your rain
and stole from You delight.
Upon Your gifts I placed my stain
of pride in copyright.
Were man to know enough to pray
that You would yet entice us
He’d call on You from pleasures’ sway
to save before a crisis.
You turned my puddles into flood
and wet my eyes with joy.
I’m changed forever by Your blood
to be what You employ.
Don’t haste to wipe away my tears.
Your Name deserves reknown.
You’ve paved the way, dissolving fears.
To Your Commission I am bound.
Sing, my heart! Give rise, my voice!
The nations need to hear!
Make known that private hearts rejoice!
Request the public’s ear!
This is what the Lord has done.
Proclaim now His salvation.
“His victory is surely won”
the song for every nation.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
prayer
if anything is worth plugging online, it's prayer.
i'm struck by how important, and yet how elusive, it is in my life. i think satan revels inconspicuously in his exploitation of our busyness and complacency.
after a few weeks of missing prayer in the morning, and God's encouragement that i really can have more of this elusive thing to which He's called me, i started reading the praying church sourcebook (partly because i was considering joining our church's prayer commission).
first i began getting up at 5 in hopes of dedicating an hour each morning to prayer. this proved to be too taxing, so i moved it to 5:30 and scheduled, just for the month of november, a half hour each tuesday and wednesday night. the 5:30 routine has been fruitful (i'm nine minutes away from the first of the prayer evenings).
this was at least partly inspired by the sourcebook's account of martin luther, who would dedicate an hour each morning to prayer and - get this - two hours on the mornings of his busiest days.
then, as prayer became more of a preoccupation, i journaled one morning after my bible reading (i had extra time, after all) and laid out opportunities for regular prayer. here's what i've begun to try to implement:
- pray when you get to your office in the morning. pray that God would use you mightily (pray against notions that your work is unimportant on either a utilitarian or Kingdom level); that He would invigorate your work.
- thank Him at the end of the day for the job and the other blessings that come to mind (easier to remember at 6pm than even two hours later).
- pray before each lunch hour, thanking Him for it, and asking Him to bring to mind the best ways to spend it.
- pray before exiting the car at BSF, for men who are struggling to be captivated by the Lord for the next two hours; for the power of the word to heal marriages and other relationships; for the edification of the men of the region to be godly leaders; for this to be an equipping and a time of growth; for honesty, vulnerability, powerful fellowship; that i would be humble, and an instrument for blessing others.
- pray before exiting the car upon returning home, thanking God for another day of His protection and the use of our car.
- pray before each spin class, that Jesus would shine through my wife and call to others
- pray before exiting the car upon arriving at your capoeira class that God would use you to bless others for His Name's sake.
- pray after each capoeira class, thanking God for the ability to do what you enjoy.
- pray before each small group meeting that God would allow prayer to flourish in the group and set the tone of the evening for a more succinct time of sharing led by an awareness that God's Spirit is in our midst (inspired by the sourcebook).
finally, and i hesitate to add it because it seems the most difficult, but, in addition to those i pray for weekly, i've set about praying for one particular person's salvation every day for one year. hopefully, i'll have a significant list of 'persons of the year' when i'm old and grey, and then meet them in glory.
that's it. and now, it's time to pray.
i'm struck by how important, and yet how elusive, it is in my life. i think satan revels inconspicuously in his exploitation of our busyness and complacency.
after a few weeks of missing prayer in the morning, and God's encouragement that i really can have more of this elusive thing to which He's called me, i started reading the praying church sourcebook (partly because i was considering joining our church's prayer commission).
first i began getting up at 5 in hopes of dedicating an hour each morning to prayer. this proved to be too taxing, so i moved it to 5:30 and scheduled, just for the month of november, a half hour each tuesday and wednesday night. the 5:30 routine has been fruitful (i'm nine minutes away from the first of the prayer evenings).
this was at least partly inspired by the sourcebook's account of martin luther, who would dedicate an hour each morning to prayer and - get this - two hours on the mornings of his busiest days.
then, as prayer became more of a preoccupation, i journaled one morning after my bible reading (i had extra time, after all) and laid out opportunities for regular prayer. here's what i've begun to try to implement:
- pray when you get to your office in the morning. pray that God would use you mightily (pray against notions that your work is unimportant on either a utilitarian or Kingdom level); that He would invigorate your work.
- thank Him at the end of the day for the job and the other blessings that come to mind (easier to remember at 6pm than even two hours later).
- pray before each lunch hour, thanking Him for it, and asking Him to bring to mind the best ways to spend it.
- pray before exiting the car at BSF, for men who are struggling to be captivated by the Lord for the next two hours; for the power of the word to heal marriages and other relationships; for the edification of the men of the region to be godly leaders; for this to be an equipping and a time of growth; for honesty, vulnerability, powerful fellowship; that i would be humble, and an instrument for blessing others.
- pray before exiting the car upon returning home, thanking God for another day of His protection and the use of our car.
- pray before each spin class, that Jesus would shine through my wife and call to others
- pray before exiting the car upon arriving at your capoeira class that God would use you to bless others for His Name's sake.
- pray after each capoeira class, thanking God for the ability to do what you enjoy.
- pray before each small group meeting that God would allow prayer to flourish in the group and set the tone of the evening for a more succinct time of sharing led by an awareness that God's Spirit is in our midst (inspired by the sourcebook).
finally, and i hesitate to add it because it seems the most difficult, but, in addition to those i pray for weekly, i've set about praying for one particular person's salvation every day for one year. hopefully, i'll have a significant list of 'persons of the year' when i'm old and grey, and then meet them in glory.
that's it. and now, it's time to pray.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
hymn writing
recently one of the unexpected delights encountered in journaling was a hymn i ended up writing when my journal entry turned into a prayer. i've been reading and listening to the new hymns of Red Mountain Church and have become inspired to write more in this style.
Though You give me the power to withstand the temptation
and give me the way I should flee
I've drunk from the Enemy's sinful libation
and turned my allegiance from Thee.
I don't see in Your storehouse the poison I drink
so my flesh scorns the Cross that I owe.
And the battle seems lost in the thoughts I yet think
but You still show me where I can go.
So I'll rest in the fear of the Lord till it's o'er
the warfare You'll carry me from.
For no weapon against me is fatally forged
for I am Christ's captive and son.
O Savior, Redeemer, I pray You find pleasing
my plea inconsistent and pained:
Deliver me, quicken my faith, and show mercy!
In spite of the calling I've stained.
Though You give me the power to withstand the temptation
and give me the way I should flee
I've drunk from the Enemy's sinful libation
and turned my allegiance from Thee.
I don't see in Your storehouse the poison I drink
so my flesh scorns the Cross that I owe.
And the battle seems lost in the thoughts I yet think
but You still show me where I can go.
So I'll rest in the fear of the Lord till it's o'er
the warfare You'll carry me from.
For no weapon against me is fatally forged
for I am Christ's captive and son.
O Savior, Redeemer, I pray You find pleasing
my plea inconsistent and pained:
Deliver me, quicken my faith, and show mercy!
In spite of the calling I've stained.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
beep-beep.
Driving in San Francisco last Friday, I had to honk the horn to get someone out of my lane or something, and from that point on, whenever we drive, I periodically hear my 18-month old daughter in the backseat say "bee-bee." (She doesn't quite get the 'p' sound at the end.)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
christy.
i finally saw my favorite praise singer in concert last week.
ladies and gentlemen, christy nockels.
my friend dong is always quick to lend me his Canon 5D Mark II and lenses, so I was able to capture this from the front row using the 200mm end of his Mark II lens. Full frame cameras are absolutely remarkable in reducing noise at high ISOs.
ladies and gentlemen, christy nockels.
my friend dong is always quick to lend me his Canon 5D Mark II and lenses, so I was able to capture this from the front row using the 200mm end of his Mark II lens. Full frame cameras are absolutely remarkable in reducing noise at high ISOs.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Christ Represented
More eyes than normal seem to be on the Muslim world this September 11, and it's worth posting a counterpoint testimony to what a Gainesville, Florida church had planned for today. In contrast to my last post about an American response to Muslim violence, here is a powerful testimony to how Christ is glorified to all the nations.
According to The Washington Post, in early August, the Taliban claimed responsibility for killing a team of doctors and one videographer in Afghanistan. The videographer was Brian Carderelli, whose mother publicly forgave her son's killers August 22 at his memorial service. She said,
Freedom in God's forgiveness surpasses any other freedom.
According to The Washington Post, in early August, the Taliban claimed responsibility for killing a team of doctors and one videographer in Afghanistan. The videographer was Brian Carderelli, whose mother publicly forgave her son's killers August 22 at his memorial service. She said,
"because God, through Christ, has forgiven us, we forgive the men who killed Brian; and we will continue to pray that God will bring peace to Afghanistan."
Freedom in God's forgiveness surpasses any other freedom.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Plea to Interrupt a Church's Plans
I usually don't blog because it takes too much time and doesn't serve to build up my wife or kids, or anyone else but me.
My heart is burdened by the Florida church in the news this week, which is pondering a book burning of Qur'ans. Something else I usually don't do is file a protest but I did this evening because their action grieves me so and I want to stop it. With a couple minor changes, here is the email I sent to Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville.
"
Please don't burn any qur'ans.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
May Romans 3:23 both temper and inform my plea. Christ died for all and He gave the Great Commission to His followers for "all nations," including Muslims.
You know that burning a Qur'an is not a bridge to faith in Christ. You know this.
It is instead a widening gulf between Muslims and the Lord who loves them. You know this. The problem is that your proposed international koran burning day doesn't only widen the gulf between Muslims and Dove World Outreach Center. It widens the gulf for Christ's body, too, the Church everywhere. By refreshing the Muslim perception that Christians are arrogant and hateful, you are sabotaging the tireless, tearful and godly efforts of men and women who've devoted their lives to bringing the love of Christ to these committed followers of God.
The loving thing to do is to bring as many people into the Kingdom of God. Paul demonstrated this with shrewdness and zeal. He became a Jew to the Jew, a Gentile to the Gentile.
Do you know that most Muslims don't read the Qur'an, and that if you were to point to surahs in their holy book like the one that says Jesus is the Mercy of God, it would be a revelation to them and thus more effective at leading them to Christ if they've been taught to avoid the bible?
Do you know that Muslims are more likely to read a bible if the person inviting them to do so has shown respect for their (Muslim) cultural background? In fact, Muslims have come to Christ in great numbers precisely because Christ's missionaries used the Qur'an as a starting point.
If you carry through with your book burning, you are being selfish, harmful, and disobedient in the most important issue of life - salvation.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I condemn your action and urge you to instead hold a prayer vigil for Muslims everywhere, repenting of your insensitivity.
This is the last week of Ramadan, when Muslims the world over are more preoccupied with seeking God's forgiveness than at any other time during the year. It is a great opportunity for those of us who want to see Muslims experience the same redemption that we've received. Please don't let it coincide with such an insult as this. You will leave ripples in your wake and people like me, who have a heart for Muslims, will have more damage to undo.
Remember, the apostle Paul started out as a terrorist.
Thank you for reading this,
Adam
"
My heart is burdened by the Florida church in the news this week, which is pondering a book burning of Qur'ans. Something else I usually don't do is file a protest but I did this evening because their action grieves me so and I want to stop it. With a couple minor changes, here is the email I sent to Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville.
"
Please don't burn any qur'ans.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
May Romans 3:23 both temper and inform my plea. Christ died for all and He gave the Great Commission to His followers for "all nations," including Muslims.
You know that burning a Qur'an is not a bridge to faith in Christ. You know this.
It is instead a widening gulf between Muslims and the Lord who loves them. You know this. The problem is that your proposed international koran burning day doesn't only widen the gulf between Muslims and Dove World Outreach Center. It widens the gulf for Christ's body, too, the Church everywhere. By refreshing the Muslim perception that Christians are arrogant and hateful, you are sabotaging the tireless, tearful and godly efforts of men and women who've devoted their lives to bringing the love of Christ to these committed followers of God.
The loving thing to do is to bring as many people into the Kingdom of God. Paul demonstrated this with shrewdness and zeal. He became a Jew to the Jew, a Gentile to the Gentile.
Do you know that most Muslims don't read the Qur'an, and that if you were to point to surahs in their holy book like the one that says Jesus is the Mercy of God, it would be a revelation to them and thus more effective at leading them to Christ if they've been taught to avoid the bible?
Do you know that Muslims are more likely to read a bible if the person inviting them to do so has shown respect for their (Muslim) cultural background? In fact, Muslims have come to Christ in great numbers precisely because Christ's missionaries used the Qur'an as a starting point.
If you carry through with your book burning, you are being selfish, harmful, and disobedient in the most important issue of life - salvation.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I condemn your action and urge you to instead hold a prayer vigil for Muslims everywhere, repenting of your insensitivity.
This is the last week of Ramadan, when Muslims the world over are more preoccupied with seeking God's forgiveness than at any other time during the year. It is a great opportunity for those of us who want to see Muslims experience the same redemption that we've received. Please don't let it coincide with such an insult as this. You will leave ripples in your wake and people like me, who have a heart for Muslims, will have more damage to undo.
Remember, the apostle Paul started out as a terrorist.
Thank you for reading this,
Adam
"
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