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.