What Will Happen When You Die?

"When you die, there will be a funeral. You may have twenty-five or two thousand people attend. But do you know what they'll do after the funeral? They will catch lunch and have a great old time together. Then they will hurry back to work because somebody was covering for them while they took the morning off. That night they'll go home and watch a sitcom rerun, and forget all about your memorial by morning. Are you ready for that?

In the end, you will lose everything. All is vanity. Vanity of vanities-that's life. It goes quickly, you die, and pretty soon nobody knows who you were." -Tommy Nelson (A Life Well Lived, 12)

Anybody feel a little smaller after reading that? I do.

Make it count,
Stephen

Sunday Worship- Everything

God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping
God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting
God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

John Piper is Bad!

Stricken and Smitten and Afflicted

"God has magnified His love, and set forth the riches of His grace towards us, in a manner which should effectually allure our hearts to Him. While we were enemies and rebels in open arms against Him--He was pleased to send his beloved Son to die for our sins--in order to redeem us from sin and hell. Christ came down from his Father's bosom--not to condemn the world of mankind, but to give His life and blood for our sakes; to make His soul an offering for our sins, to suffer inconceivable anguish and sorrow, and to die for us--that He might bring us back to God and happiness. He poured out His soul to death, to secure us from the deserved wrath and vengeance of God. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, that we through His stripes might be healed. He was stricken and smitten and afflicted by God--that He might open the way for us to partake of Divine mercy, and render Himself a more engaging object of our love.

He is the beloved Son of God, the first and the everlasting favorite of heaven, the highest object of his Father's delight; He is the great peace-maker between God and sinners, the chief messenger of divine love to men. If He had not undertaken to make peace by His atoning sacrifice, we would have continued the children of wrath forever! He came to deliver us from our state of enmity and rebellion, to save us from sin and its dreadful consequences, from the curse of God's righteous law, and from everlasting destruction. His heart was pierced for the sake of sinful men. The messages of His love--He has written to us in lines of blood. This is that divine Savior who, though disregarded by many, is precious to those that believe. 'Yes, He is very precious to you who believe!' 1 Peter 2:7

Love to the divine Redeemer is the distinguishing characteristic of a real Christian, and most indispensably requirement in order to our serving God acceptably in this world, and to our dwelling with Him in the next world. 'If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed!' 1 Corinthians 16:22"
-John Fawcett

Resting in the Omniscient One

Lord, you knows all things; you know when I sit and and when I rise and are acquainted with all my ways. I can inform you of nothing and it is vain to try to hide anything from you. In the light of your perfect knowledge I would be as naive as a little child. Help me to put away all care, for you know the way that I take and when you have tried me I shall come forth as gold. Amen.

-A.W. Tozer (Knowledge of the Holy, 55. Language Updated)

A Case for E-0 Evangelism

The month of June, 2008 isn't over yet but it is already one that I will remember for a long time. Not merely because it is the longest amount of time I have been apart from my girlfriend since we started dating (or perhaps since we have known each other). But because it is the first time that I have seen a multiple accounts of apostasy within my social circle (of any period) during a very short period of time. This is not a shock to me at all. Mark my words; I will have more friends within the coming years who reject Christ in one way or another. But it does make me think about what I could have done in obedience to Christ that might have changed this situation. The reason I want to be careful with my words and focus on obedience is because I believe in God's sovereignty over all things, including salvation. But there is one thing that I want to make a case that I, and other Christians, should be doing much more frequently. In missiological terms (the science and practice of missions) this is known as E-0 evangelism.

Stay with me, this is an important truth that is VERY easy to understand. If I am talking about the different levels of evangelism I might refer to local or foreign evangelism. If I am referring only to local evangelism I could be talking about within this country, region, state, or city. These different levels are referred to in missiology as E-1, E-2, E-3, etc.. But there is one form of evangelism that is often either overemphasized or neglected. E-0 evangelism is evangelism that happens inside the church to her own members. One would think that this shouldn't be necessary but we all know that there are people within the church who are as lost as anybody outside of it. So I want to make a case for E-0 evangelism.

The most important part of this form of evangelism is from the pulpit. The gospel should be the center of every sermon because it is the center of the Bible's message. But what about within our everyday lives? I remember one instance in which my friend (who is now an agnostic) was doing something that I was convicted of as sin. I jokingly said that it wasn't a good idea but didn't outright plead with him to reconsider for the sake of his soul. Had I done that then (and I'm sure there were plenty of other occasion) it might have exposed the real problem before he outright abandoned belief in God. In other words, I could have confronted him with the gospel before his heart became so hard as to bring about this new manifestation of the unbelief that had been there his whole life.

In reality this is why church discipline exists, for the good of the person being disciplined. But the point is that we should, in one way or another, be communicating the gospel to fellow Christians whether they are in sin or not. That is the heart of Christianity from the new birth till the day we drop.

So now I move to a new type of evangelism with these friends. But the lesson I come away with is very valuable. Perhaps God is using this situation to save someone within the church down the road; I would be incredibly grateful if He were to use me in that. This was a different type of post in many ways but I hope it has been valuable for you in some way.

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)

Now get off the computer and serve Him! :-P
Stephen

Not Your Fathers Christian Rap Part 2

All have sinned and fall short of the glory

Of Yahweh- sovereign over all territories

Perfectly holy, righteous eternally

Infinite knowledge, He reigns universally

Unfathomable understanding- He’s got this

Pure, perfection personified- spotless

Everywhere at once, supreme superiority

How dare the creature usurp His authority?

You have any idea who you’re dealing with?

Sooner or later, everybody will be feeling it

Without perfection, we will never enter His presence

Or taste heaven’s essence- spiritual effervescence

Sinners can’t afford God telling them to stay out

Grim situation- I think we need a way out

Look! To the rescue it’s Jesus Christ

Holding in His right hand the keys to life

God in the flesh giving all He had to give

He lived the perfect life that no other man can live

Fulfilling what was spoken through the prophet’s faith

So that on Judgment Day, a swap takes place

Jesus got the punishment- believers get eternal life

And all you got to do is place your trust in Christ

That’s the good news and not everybody can hear it

But those God chose get drawn by His Spirit

Don’t take my word for it, take your Bible off the shelf

Blow the dust off of it and read it for yourself

Prepare to get the key that unlocks the mystery

Of life, victory awaits and this is what you’ll see:

That truth and perception rarely ever coincide

Christ’s arms are open wide, go inside

If you’re unsaved listening to this the Great Physician

Has got the medicine- He’s knocking at your door- let Him in

And you can sit down and have a meal together

That’s my word, in His presence, keep it real forever!

-The Gospel by Shai Linne

Sunday Worship- Doxology

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

-Thomas Ken

John Piper on the Prosperity "Gospel."

What They Missed From In Front of Their Eyes

"...he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:2b-3)

"There was a great deal of true beauty in him, the beauty of holiness and the beauty of goodness, enough to render him the desire of all nations; but the far greater part of those among whom he lived, and conversed, saw none of this beauty, for it was spiritually discerned. Carnal hearts see no excellency in the Lord Jesus, nothing that should induce them to desire an acquaintance with him or interest in him. Nay, he is not only not desired, but he is despised and rejected, abandoned and abhorred, a reproach of men, an abject, one that men were shy of keeping company with and had not any esteem for, a worm and no man. He was despised as a mean man, rejected as a bad man. He was the stone which the builders refused; they would not have him to reign over them."-Matthew Henry

Later,
Stephen

Freedom From Hollow Gems-Prayer

"O Father,
How we fear the wasting of our years!
Forgive us for our love affair with empty things and our little love for you.
Let us feel the suicidal faith in innocent idols.
Give us fresh freedom from all hollow gems.
Grant us to bear the weight of glory and become more like your Son.
In his all-sustaining name we pray.
Amen"

-John Piper (Pierced By the Word, 27)

In Word or Deed

Do people see Jesus in the way you...

...talk about your boss?
...talk about your spouse?
...let go of little things in light of eternity?
...forgive?
...spend your money?
...apologize for the smallest amount of fault?
...use the Lord's name?
...react to crude humor?
...disagree with them?
...spend your time?
...talk about the movie you saw last night?
...stand up for what you believe in?

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." Colossians 3:17

The Gospel in 6 Minutes

"The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy."

"That’s the gospel."

Sunday Worship- Father's Day

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

-Stuart Townsend

New SBC President

Congratulations to Pastor Johnny Hunt who was named President of the Southern Baptist Convention this week. Though I do not agree with Pastor Hunt on some theological issues I can appreciate his hard work in ministry and love for Jesus; that is the most important thing. I listened to some of his preaching earlier this week and he is an enthusiastic, practical preacher. Though I must admit that I wish Dr. Albert Mohler hadn't dropped out of consideration I trust that Pastor Hunt will continue the SBC's tradition of evangelism; both locally and abroad. Whether you are SBC, Missionary Baptist, Presbyterian, or one of those crazy Calvinists at the Bible Church of Little Rock (love you guys) please take a moment to pray for Pastor Hunt and my denomination.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

J.I. Packer on Loving Christians

"Love to one another...is the family likeness of God's children; he who does not love Christians is evidently not in the family, for 'God is love' and imparts a loving nature to all who know him (1 John 4:7-8). But 'God is love is a vague formula; how can we form a clear idea of the love that God would reproduce in us? 'This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him' (1 John 4:9). Nor was this God's acknowledgment of some real devotion on our part; not at all. 'Herein is love, not that we loved God but that'- in a situation where we did not love him, and there was nothing about us to move him to do anything other than blast and blight us for our ingrained irreligion- 'he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [wrath bearing sacrifice] for our sins.' By this divine initiative, says John, the meaning and measure of the love that we must imitate are made known."
-J.I. Packer (In My Place Condemned He Stood, 37)

Throne of Grace- Prayer

"Heavenly Father, it’s in the name of Jesus I pray

He is the way- for His sake, please receive what I say

First things first, blessed be Your holy name

There’s none like You, You stand alone and you reign

Lord, You know my frame, You remember that I’m dust

Jesus, who overcame- it’s in Him I put my trust

No confidence in the flesh, it’s obvious I’m a mess

No doubt, much more a mess than what I can see manifest

I confess that I daily fall short of Your glory

I’ve failed so many times- my sin’s always before me

I take time to ponder the opportunities I’ve squandered

And how I’m prone to wander from here to yonder

My foolish, restless heart clings to dear idols

Which could never satisfy me- they’re mere trifles

Like David said, You hem me in behind and before

You convict me of the sin that I’ve been trying to ignore

Lord, you see my immaturity, You see my insecurity

You see all my impurity- how long will You endure with me?

My heart’s laid before You- stark naked, undressed

I pray that You would become greater and that I’d become less

Yes, when I see Jesus and His inherent loveliness

I’m reminded of my own comparative nothingness

And actually, I’m as primitive as can be

Compared to His magnificent, infinite majesty

You’ve shown me the glory of Christ, He’s so holy

My only hope is that You look upon the lowly

So I humble myself as I appear at Your throne

Not based on my righteousness, but Christ’s merits alone

I’m crying out for mercy as I magnify Your name

You amplified the pain of the Lamb of God who was slain

So truly, I only have one request that’ll suit me

Please open up my eyes to better behold His beauty"

-Shai Linne

Confessions of a Cripple: 10 Ways to Waste Your Injury

What not to do in excess (and some at all) when you are stuck at home for the better part of a month.

1. Watch T.V.
2. Take a nap.
3. Play video games
4. Watch Movies
5. Watch seasons of Arrested Development on DVD.
6. Take a Hydrocodone and fall asleep (yes there is a difference between this and just taking a nap).
7. Facebook.
8. "I wouldn't be reading my Bible right now if I wasn't injured so it won't hurt to wait until my next quiet time."
9. Read bad books instead of good books just so that you know where to point people when you tell them that Wild At Heart contains heresy (pages 29-32 amongst others!).
10. See how long you can hold yourself up with your crutches (depends on the day).

How much of your life will really count?

The reason for tomorrow's post...

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last."-Author Unknown

Sunday Worship-You Are God

"You’re closer than our troubles
More present than any danger
More grand than gold and silver
You are God, You are God

You’re the joy of man’s desire
You are Father, satisfier
We are stunned with wide-eyed wonder
You are God, You are God

You fill our hearts with love and faith
You fight for us, You make us brave
You are God, You are God.
You walk with us, You lead us on
Faith, hope and love wakes up with dawn
You are God, You are God "

Charlie Hall

Not Your Fathers Christian Rap Part 1

Warning: The following post are straight from the first verse of a rap song.

Look I was born like the rest, from Adam's curse ruined
Straight born into death, with my back turned to Him
The facts are confusing, I'm a wretched man
But He took me, held my hand, and my death was banned
He could have let my sins stay and my transgressions stand
But I've been selected, elected, predestined man
The question stands, look what I do to deserve
To be blessed with His plan, made new, and reserved
Nothing. I was like the rest, born attracted to death
Nah we ain't said it, but its just what all our actions expressed
'Cause although I ain't wanna bother with the Lord He spared me
When I needed a Father, like orphan Annie
He took me in, clothed me in His righteousness
Fed me the fruit of the Spirit, now my life is His
Its all grace, I don't deserve this relationship
'Cause I ain't got nothing to give even my faith was a gift.

-Trip Lee

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

What is the real problem? What is the real solution?

The reason we should be picky in our presentation of the gospel. It's not about a better life!

"[M]ost Americans believe that their major problem is something that has happened to them, and that their solution is to be found within. In other words, they believe that they have an alien problem that is to be resolved with an inner solution. What the gospel says, however, is that we have an inner problem that demands an alien solution-a righteousness that is not our own. Once we begin to understand how that dichotomy comes together, we can see better how we can think we are talking about the gospel, yet people in this culture will hear it as merely a new form of therapy." -Albert Mohler (Preaching the Cross, 81)

A Puritan Prayer

As part of the new schedule for the blog I wanted to incorporate some great prayers. Every Wednesday my post will simply be a prayer; mostly prayers I have found from great Christians. This is a rather lengthy puritan prayer but I ask that you would read it and contemplate it because this is the kind of prayer all Christians should bring to God.

O Holy Spirit,
Move, I beg you, upon my disordered heart.
Take away my unruly desires and hateful lusts.
Lift the mists and darkness of unbelief. Brighten
my soul with the pure light of truth. Make it . . .
fragrant as the garden of paradise,
rich with every goodly fruit,
beautiful with heavenly grace,
radiant with rays of divine light.
Be my . . .
comforter,
light,
guide,
sanctifier.

Take of the things of Christ and show them to my
soul. Through You may I daily learn more of His . . .
love,
grace,
compassion,
faithfulness,
beauty.
Lead me to the cross and show me . . .
His wounds,
the hateful nature of evil,
the power of Satan.

May I there see my sins as . . .
the nails which transfixed Him,
the cords which bound Him,
the thorns which tore Him,
the sword which pierced Him.

Help me to find in His death--the
reality and immensity of His love.

Open for me the wondrous volumes of truth in His
death. Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of . . .
atonement achieved,
redemption completed,
guilt done away,
my debt paid,
my sins forgiven,
my soul saved,
hell vanquished,
heaven opened,
eternity made mine.

O Holy Spirit, deepen in me these saving lessons.
Write them upon my heart, that my walk be . . .
sin-loathing,
sin-fleeing,
Christ-loving.

How Paul lived Luke 9:23 Part 2

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me...For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory..." (Luke 9:23, 26)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

Why isn't Paul ashamed of the gospel? He tells us that it is because "it is the power of God for salvation." The problem with this phrase is that when I (and I suspect most American Evangelical Christians) read this phrase my mind is thinking "it is the power of God for converting people." In other words, I think most people read this phrase and think that Paul is saying that the message of the gospel is the power of convincing people to believe; which is the basis of their salvation. Though it may be true that the message has that kind of power (see Romans 10:17) that is not the grounds of Paul's confidence in the gospel. If Paul's lack of shame in the gospel was merely that it has the power to convert people he would be no better than any other religious leader (no better than Oprah!).

So what is it the real reason Paul is not ashamed of the gospel? What is it that encourages him to follow the command of Jesus in Luke 9? Simply put, Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it works. Look at it this way, "I am not ashamed of the gospel (the person and work of Jesus Christ coming to the world to die for sinners), for it is the power of God for salvation (salvation from the wrath of God unto eternal life) to everyone who believes."

How does Paul's confidence that Christ's righteous life and death relate to Jesus' command in Luke 9? Jesus told his disciples to lose their lives for the sake of the gospel and then immediately connects that loss of life to being unashamed of him. Paul is saying that he isn't ashamed of the gospel because he has faith that the gospel will be unto his salvation from Divine wrath. This is why Paul gladly gives up his right to comfort in this life (see part 1).

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

The most important thing about you.

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God." -A.W. Tozer (Knowledge of the Holy, 1)

Sunday Worship- Everything Glorious

The day is brighter here with You
The night is lighter than its hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?

My eyes are small but they have seen
the beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
there's light enough to see that

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

From glory to glory
You are glorious You are glorious
From glory to glory
You are glorious. You are glorious
Which leads me to believe
why I can believe that

From glory to glory From glory to glory
You are glorious. You are glorious.
You are glorious. You are glorious.

-David Crowder