hymn sing
So last night we had an all church Christmas Carol hymn sing in the sanctuary. Quite frankly it was amazing. The whole body of the church was represented and we just sang together in worship. It was simple, fun, and felt like a family sitting together with the Holy Spirit gently resting on us all. If you missed it, there is always next year.
what is so scary about free grace? and is it really free?
I just finished a book that I recommend called “The Prodigal God” by Tim Keller, and something that rally grabbed me (actually there was a ton that grabbed me but I want to highlight this.) On page 120-121 he tells a story about a woman at his church that learned that we are accepted by God by grace alone, nothing we have done or can do can earn it. Her response was “That is a scary idea! Oh, its good scary, but still scary.” When questioned why or how it was scary her response was:
If I was saved by my good works-then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be like a taxpayer with rights. I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if it is really true that I am a sinner saved by sheer grace-at God’s infinite cost-then there’s nothing he can’t ask of me.
Grace is not free, instead, it has an infinite cost that has already been paid in full.
can you fly
I saw this on my friend’s site and had to share it.
when we only care for ourselves
I just read this article and I still feel sick, how is it that we can just walk past those in need.
a prison of our own making
Rev. Rich Leatherberry preached this last Sunday on Matt 18:21-35, a parable on forgiveness. Jesus tells a story about a man who owed an enormous debt to a king that he could never pay. The king forgave him his debt and after being forgiven, the servant went out to find one of his peers who owed him money. Instead of forgiving his peer the debt, he had him thrown in jail for failure to pay. When the king found out, he reinstated the debt and threw the unforgiving man into prison.
Now every time I have heard this I took the position of, I better forgive others or else God won’t forgive me and will “throw me in prison.”
Yesterday, Rich said something that struck me. He painted a picture of a loving God who was trying to get us to align with him in forgiveness because if we do not, we will build a prison of bitterness for ourselves. This inability to forgive will lock us down from being all that God created us to be. It will lock us out of relationships with others and Him.
The prison would be one of our own making. For me it was again good for me to see God as one who just wants to protect us, not a tyrant king looking for the ways we mess up so he can drop the hammer.
There is freedom in forgiveness.
an ep i am currently enjoying
I found this EP recently and have really been enjoying it, check it out. The City Harmonic
new from bon iver
Bon Iver was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and it is a must listen. Holy crow, amazing… Check it.
stevie wonder and a gospel album? sounds good to me…
So the rumor is out there that Stevie Wonder is thinking about recording a gospel album. Put me on the list, I’ll buy one. If I get a vote, I want “Nothing But the Blood” on there.
run
A great reminder for my day today…
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
wanna see a paralytic walk?
In case you missed this past Sunday, catch it now and witness a true miracle through Steve Ruetschle and his sermon, Friends of the Paralytic.
