A praise song

By John Lafferty
09.30.09

From the roots of the mountains
To the gates of heaven
We have heard your call
The blind ones have seen
The afflicted have been freed
you make your wonders known to all

Beruch HaShem L'Adonai
In every tongue we lift you high
We praise the Lord, sing halelu
Creation's song we return to you

The rocks will cry out
The four winds will echo
The trees will clap thier hands
The clouds will rejoice
The rainbow will lend it's voice
To praise the risen Son of Man

Because of your wonders
Majestic in word and deed
We thank you alone
And if we do not
Nature will gush out
An unrestrained show of love

Deep calls to deep rejoicing
Saints join in and will sing
A thunderous anthem
Like the sound of many waters rushing      

"Ain't No Reason" by Brett Dennen

There is a reason... and he's only hinting at it by saying there is none. Great song. Powerful video.

To all future father-in-laws: Try this on for size.

I just finished reading John Piper's newest book in the series, "The Swans are not silent" titled, "Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ". Each book contains a brief biographical sketch of a leader of the church who stood as a beacon of faithfulness in his day and age. Reading Christian biographies is a great practice in expanding one's view God's "enduring kindness". It is a sure remedy for self-exaltation. Saints of ages past have big shoes to fill!
One of my favorite men of God was Adoniram Judson, although i doubt i'll bless any of my children with his first name. He served a critical purpose in beginning the American Missions movement in the 19th century. He was one of the first missionaries sent out from America and his fame for preaching to the heathens was a premier catalist in the largest modern missions mobilization. Before he left for his life's work, he met his future wife. He fell in love with her at first sight, and they were married six months later. During this time he wrote her father a bold letter,
"I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?" (piper, p92)
Shocked?!? Well, it might seem a bit forward, but it worked. Anne and Adoniram were married two weeks before they left for the missions field. Maybe i'll try this with approach with my next girlfriend's dad. i really like the opening bit, "if you let me marry your daughter, you'll never see her again." His direct sense of the calling of God upon his life created an openness to the extreme needs of the gospel. To Judson, the purpose of the gospel was urgent. That's why he's one of my favorite saints.
For more on Adoniram Judson, check out Piper's newest book. it's FREE on desiringgod.org. Until next time, serve Him urgently.

Throwing caution to the fire

Mainly for humor, but partially for fun. Disclaimer: I realize this could be considered out of good taste, but i post it in an effort to widen a discussion of the issues, not to simply dismiss disagreements as inconsequential.



My take on this video is, "our open-mindedness has led us to the conclusions that all others are wrong."

How He Loves Us

As i post this, i am moved to repent.
I do not love him the way i should.
I love other things more.
Like a child i play in the mud of wordliness and stain the beautiful raiment he has clothed me in.
I trivialize his affections.
Let me be candid, i take his love for granted.
I'm comfortable with the immense weight of all eternity hidden in the recesses of my heart.
Yet every time i desire to wet my tongue with his grace, he unleashes a torrential stream of love from his eternal storehouses.
His love is amazing.
AND
I still have little faith.
I try to do his will for him.
I am content for him to have his way as long as i am on the committee that makes the decisions.
I am obsessed with 'making up' for his 'mistakes'
Oh, God, wait a second... you forgot something here. Let me fix it for you.
As if i could hold the burning stars in place with my right hand,
or even hold my loose teeth in my fleshly gums with my designs.
I repent.
Renew my affections for your ways.
Break this heart in me.
Take me to your temple.
Let your praises echo in your sanctuary.
I will be spent in your service.
Then, you will no longer be jealous for me.

Jacksonville

I have a lot of ideas i should write about Jacksonville. Since i lived there for 6 weeks interning for a non-profit ministry called 2nd Mile Ministries, i have quite a few things i need to debrief still... i'm not sure if i will ever get to all of them, but for the sake of clearing out a couple of the good ones before i talk them to death, here's a few.

Reasons i loved Jacksonville/2nd Mile

~Church planing in the 'hood
~Andrae's (The Big Boss) laugh
~Swami... Garrett's (Intern) guitar playing
~The question game ("Hey, why are you wearing that shirt?")
~Jambo!!!
~My favorite day camper, Akilah. So cute.
~Ruth's ruthless Eyebrow and in a unrelated matter, her 4pm coffee runs.
~Heron saying... "Do you smell that?"
~Trying to do the 'jerk'
~I lived with 6 amazing interns.
~H. B. & Shilo Metropolitan Baptist Church
~Taking a large group of white people to Shilo
~Yo Fam!
~Jamison working the kids into an excited frenzy just to run around a circle screaming, "You Ain't Hype"
~Running in the monsoon rain
~Going for a Rita's Gelato or Brewster's Ice Cream run at 9pm
~Hardee's with Amp
~Having a house full of people and no car to leave--being brought face to face with the stark realization that you must walk in the the spirit or sin publicly.
~Mama B's breakfast
~Park nights
~Kobe Bryant On 'Em
~Stupid Dumb Idiot
~The upstairs. affectionately dubbed "Sheol" by virtue of the lack of AC. Coincidentally, i slept there most nights.
~A woman who sells herself (don't get the wrong idea. I get convicted every time i think about it because i have no idea how to love them the way Jesus would)
~Luna's (i have no idea how to really spell Mrs. Robinson's name) gentle spirit.
~St. Augustine, and yes, slapping pigeons.
~Knowing that i'd slap pigeons if i had to do it all over again.
~Meeting the Highschoolers and going to the beach the first day.
~Being the token white guy
~Our volunteer groups, Middleburg, Eastside, and especially the 'Bama crew.
~"The ocean is not endless"
~The old firehouse we transformed into a Safari!
~STAY LEFT!!!!!
~Pastor Rick Borque's Sermons on Isaiah

There are so many things i love about Jacksonville. it was such a blessing to go. My burden for the gospel to be carried there compels me to ask you to pray for God's hand to change the hearts of men to love Him in the hood.

Hanrland Sanders must be Rolling Over in his Grave

Hard times in the fast food industry. KFC introduces a line of grilled chicken. and let's be honest... KGC just doesn't have the same ring to it.



We'll see if the grilling gamble pays of, but until then, the Coronel must be rolling over in his grave.

A conversation between Master A and Mister B

Well said, sir.
But is that your linchpin?
Don’t bother to cross the wires if you can’t stay

You can’t be legitimate and lonely
If you’re bored, you’re probably boring
Sure, you could copy and paste your entire existence
But you can’t erase it(....................)Or give it back

Love your loving mother not the hired surrogate
She’s the fountain of who you are
“Who you were” and “who you are” like the two main ingredients of vinaigrette
Is it an infinite coincidence that they never mix?

Lead, follow or get out of the way.
Don’t sit idle by
Counter Renege Or Reply

I could measure my insides against your outsides
But who wants to rob their own grave with a fake gun?

"Tolerate" The National Bank

Jazz Indie Rock... and i love it.

I love Easter

Easter is such a special day. This year, i half-heartedly observed my own form of unconventional lent. I know that sounds like weak sauce, but i stood up to a giant for fourty days. My stomach. I partook of some form of rice and beans for lunch, giving up normal foods, to remind myself of what Christ gave up to become man.
During my meditations on the life of the savior, i was floored. my own insiginificance on the part of the gospel got up in my face and stayed there. You see, there are two impossibilities wrapped up in easter. One for God, and one for Man.

God Died.

Man Ressurected.

this is the height of the dual nature of Jesus. we know he is both fully God and man, and are familiar with the great possibilities of the life of a God/man, but what are the cons, the downsides, and the bad thigns of being God and Man? They are all wraped up in the fact that Christ orchastrated every event in his death, burrial and resurrection, and yet never should have died. His perfetion prohibited it. Yet, 'he who knew no sin became sin for us'.
This is where it gets complicated, because Christ had to be the perfect sinless sacrifice-the passover lamb-in order to be our redemption, and yet, in his boundless love, took sin on himself. the very sin he fought against. the very sin that separated creation and creator. the very sin that bears the hate of his holy prejudice.

I believe a proper understaning of Easter deflates narcicistic self-rightiousness. God did not die for you. He won you. He is not consumed with you, but we are fulfilled in him.

I don't mean to be hyper critical, and i mean to say this in love. i was singing in the shower friday morning a little song you might know. it goes,

you gave, you gave, your life away,
you gave, you gave, your life away,
you gave, you gave, your life away for me
your grace has broken every chain,
my sin is gone my debt's been paid,
you gave, you gave, your life away for me

this song of praise turned bitter on my tongue as i sang the last two words... "for me". If a man to believes the Almight Creator of the universe wants to be BFF's, he does not know God.

During the week of His Passion, Jesus was asked, "which commandment is greatest?" and he replied with Deut 6:4,5. a passage the Hebrews called "Shma" or "Hear".

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

This was the last question the religious leaders tried on Jesus, and with this answer he explaned the profundity of His Passion. The way it has been since the beginning of divine revelation, a call to love God. a call to be obedient sons and daughters, royal priests, and heirs. I love Easter because it tells me how to love God.

Love God.

John Piper: Sorrow and Joy

So many times in the Christian life, i find it hard to balance the sorrow of the world, and the joy of a unshakable hope in Christ. For example, i took Julie out to El Capitan theatre in Hollywood to celebrate our year of dating. We had a marvelous time. The evening's entertainment included variations on disney themes by a live world-class organist on a giant Wurlitzer Theatre organ, drinks and popcorn, a pre-show live performance, and an ice cream sunday at the next door at the "Disney Soda Fountain". The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by both of us.
Yet, while we were gleefully homeward bound from West Hollywood, called Westwood, we shared an overwhelming sense of sorrow for the great and rampant sin that characterizes so much of the westwood. We conversed about the state of our culture for almost the entire ride home. It still grieves me to think of the pervasiveness of the immoral Hollywood influence worldwide, and that it grieves the very heart of God. John Piper has this to say about conflicting joy and sorrow,

"Or to put it positively, the seasoned soul in Christ has a steady joy and a steady sorrow. They protect each other. Joy is protected from being flippant by steady sorrow. Sorrow is protected from being fatal by steady joy. And they intensify each other. Joy is made deeper by steady sorrow. Sorrow is made sweeter by steady joy."

Yet, i must admit, i do not have the most mature view of sorrow and joy. My reaction, sometimes flippant or demeaning, reveals my sinful heart. I am greatly encouraged by this article posted on Desiringgod.org by John Piper because i want to be this solid and legit.

There is no more solid faith than the one constantly abiding in Him while turned over by life's unrelenting waves of sorrow and joy. Sorrow and joy are two of God's most effective graces in the lives of his children. so many godly men i admire are caught in the restraint of these dueling passions, and their lives embody the steadfastness of God's loving kindness.

I pray the Lord will bring refining sorrow and joy for you all.

Let your loving kindness, Oh God, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33:22

Tuesday Edition: Resume

What's happening? doing good. been really sick lately. (hence the absence of posting)

Tuesday Edition of what's in my pockets
Pants: Blue Jeans

1. Ten ideas from my brainstorming session on fund raising for my Jacksonville Missions trip. Notable Ideas:
a: Open Mic Night
b: Auctioning a Date with Jamison
2. Two quarters
3. A receipt from Starbucks
4. Two ticket stubs from Slumdog Millionaire. I took Julie to see it last night... Good movie. Julie's favorite movie ever. She loved it. :)
5. A receipt from El Pollo Loco. Great chicken. Great chicken. Great chicken.
6. My keys and my wallet.

While I wrote this post, I have been sipping African Red Bush Tazo Tea. It's real good. i've started drinking tea since i started this cold about two weeks ago.

Poem

I have been writing poetry and lyrics for about as long as i could write, but only recently has this hobby found proper articulation. Here is one of my first poems. It was a breakthrough in writing with clarity. enjoy.

I Am a City Mouse
I am a city mouse
A delightful gentleman
Aware and self-conscious
Behind Plastic frames

Miniver Cheevy died
I drank wine with his ghost
In life he’d have traded his soul
for a Camelot host

The future in my hands—
Past in his dead grasp
For the chain of moments
I pulled him in laps

“Quit this” he spoke
The present revealed
The path became teeth
As he dug in his heels

The teeth drew blood
The apparition concedes
A bargain of providence
And gives me what I need

The future, my bracelet
The past, my collar
I found the chains locked
Stiff from an unseen controller

“Quit this” I called
My expectations deceived
I followed the chain
To see who I see

A thunderous voice
Pealed back my nerve
I gasped as he said
“My son, you’re absurd”

I bent down quickly
He tugged at my leash,
Pulled me eye level
My fangs to His teeth.

“I AM THE LORD
The present is mine
You will exist
In my framework of time”

Tuesday Edition: What's in my Pocket?

Howdy, howdy, howdy!

Its time for your favorite periodical update! Tuesday Edition of what's in my pockets?

My Shorts
- $.46 (left over change from 2 dbl cheese burgers from McDees... do the math, that's not an item on the dollar menu anymore... rough times for Ronald)
- A blow pop wrapper from Ester Dennis. I watched House @ RED's tonight. it rocked.
- Lip-Pro Balm. cause it's winter, and my lips will crack if i don't have this stuff. Lip-Pro is a life saver around here.
- My Wallet
- My Keys

My Jacket
- Nothing...lame. i wanted something to get really riled up about or better yet trash talk the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I'm watching ESPN Sportscenter Superbowl coverage and wondering to myself, "when did Amad Rashad's left eye get crazy? i don't remember when, but i feel like it must have happened overnight and he walked into work one day, and his boss was like what's up with your eye? And all Amad had to do was whisper the word, "disability" and his boss never asked another question. lol.

I'm going to build a bunkbed tomorrow. I'm 23. Bunkbed. 23. Bunk. i'll pretend it's like building a secret clubhouse. sweetness huh?

Music Video Monday: Fiction Family

Jon Foreman is one of my favorite Theologians.


ok... well, maybe not. but he is one of my favorite song writers, and he has a new crew. He has collaborated with Nickel Creek's Sean Watkins for two and a half years to deliver their musical love-child.

Many musicians infuse collaborations with their different tastes. It might not be as crazy as the time when Headbanger Dimebag Darell and Country rebel David Allen Coe formed "Rebel meets Rebel" or as lame as Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson embarrassed themselves on National TV, but it is a refreshing Cup O' Muzak.

Check out Fiction Family.


.

Here's a little interview for those of you who'd like some deeper content... it's like finding Atlantis in a bagel.

Calvanistic Controversial

"Rick Warren is a brother in Christ."

Stop. Think.

How does that make you feel?

Jesus loves him.

What do you think about that?










An unfortunate page in modern Christianity is our criticism of our own.

A prime example is Rick Warren's prayer during the inauguration of President Obama. Driscoll was the only positive religious source i have heard. http://theresurgence.com/rick_warrens_prayer Thank you for posting this, Mark. I appreciate this encouragement.

----------------

Now playing: The Myriad - Forget What You Came For

Tuesday Edition:

it's time for the weekly segment of "what's in my pockets"

Pants Pockets:
- $.30
- Cell Phone with a new voice mail i probably won't check.
- Wallet

That's all folks. looking scant tonight... and tired.

good night.

Temporary Setbacks...

Technical difficulties drew the shutters on my blogging about a week ago when my computer crashed. Despite minor difficulties, i am back online, crashing into the blogosphere like a meteoric crash of a marble into the ocean.

Monday Music video: Johnny Cash "God's Gonna Cut You Down."


Sometimes i sing this song with Johnny, and sometimes Johnny sings this song to me.

MuteMath

I can't get enough musical love from Paul Meaney. He was a part of Earthsuit, and now fronts MuteMath with his Smooth magical melodies.

Check out his new song, released a while back... still noteworthy.
http://www.imeem.com/dialogs/standaloneplaylist/?k=3zY2VsO_1f

Tuesday Edition Of...

I have been trying to think of a consistent feature, so, until i think of something better, i will conduct "TUESDAY EDITION OF WHAT'S IN MY POCKETS?"

Lessee... what do i have in my pocketsess, My Precious???
In my shorts, i have
1. My cell phone
2. Chap Stick Classic
3. An Orange Pen... kinda embarrassing... completely unintentional color selection, trust me...
4. $.71
5. Plastic Tire Tube Cap (i intend to put it back on)
6. My Wallet

In my Jacket, i have
1. A Small Plastic bag
2. A Business card from a guy who designs business cards. check out yakstub.com
3. A hole. just found it.

Welp, that's all from me. Have a great day, and God bless.

Things I'm Excited about.

I'm a little discouraged, so i thought i'd focus on the positive. :)

1. Chasing Cadence is playing winter camp for 168. Super excited about this. i can't wait to see these guys.

interuption: i just saw a commercial for "I Can Only Imagine Deluxe Edition". a couple of songs were, "Thy Word" "Butterfly Kisses" and "I Can Only Imagine". This 90's style cheesy commercial aired on ESPN. Makes me ask myself, "Is Jesus a dorky brand?"

2. My new Roommates. Jared, Josh and Primo.
a. Jared - Seminary guy. good friend. better example.
b. Josh - Post Highschool guy. video editor. pretty quiet.
c. Primo - Editor for local newspaper. Really knowledgeable about everything on CNN.

3. Being a College Grad. No more studies. nuf said.

4. My awesome 5day trip to Colorado with Julie. I couldn't ask for a better trip or better people in my life. Thank you Jesus.

5. Cheap pickins on After Christmas Goodies. i love cheap cookies, panetonie, stolen, ect...

6. ESPN and Free Internet Poker. Good entertainment.

Balance Beam

A convicting illustration by Francis Chan. Love this guy. Thanks for the link, Jared.

Resolution

My Christian experience has been well guarded in the last year. Propped up by Christian community at TMC, and will soon be legitimized. We all know its easy to be a Christian when everyone around you is walking and talking Jesus too. The props have been removed. No more TMC—Less Christian community and more secular influence. Over the last year, i have found myself less and less involved and in love with the Church. This is pretty involved... i won't go too in-depth, but know that it has to do with my neurotic heart, my unbelief, and my criticism. I have delighted in achieving believer's doubt. I am ambitious to avoid the mass of American Christian hypocrisy.
I want to avoid sermonizing over this issue, but it seems to me there are few authentic believers. I am convinced the only thing worth losing your life over is the gospel. No war, political tie, social movement, or family connection is worth more than the blood of our savior. Wouldn’t it be obvious if Christians believed in losing their lives for the passions of the Cross?

My dear friends, cast your burdens on Christ. He will bring blood to your stony heart. He calls you his brother, and wants to open a room in his house for you. Embrace his community before you seek to find a home on the earth. It’s better with Jesus—better is one day in his courts, Better is one day in his house.