RSS

Category Archives: Hymns and Songs

“No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock — No parody like power, no fever like desire

29 Jul

“No Insult Like The Truth” By Charlie Peacock

I’ve run my ship aground
on the rocks of the soul
There’s no lie like independence
there’s no demon like control
I’ve fanned the burning embers
til my house was on fire
There’s no parody like power
There’s no fever like desire
I’ve drained the wine of darkness
to the dregs of deceit
There’s no drug as strong as pride
There’s no blindness like conceit
I’ve railed against the mountain
With a pickaxe and a file
There’s no minefield like presumption
There’s no death wish like denial

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

I’ve adjusted my prescription
til I couldn’t trust my vision
there’s no killer like convenience
there’s no sickness like omission
I’ve amended resolutions and resisted explanation
There’s no trap door like emotion
There’s no pit like reputation

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion
There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

This is part of a series dissecting the song “No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock. In the series, I am taking two of the statements he makes and exploring the depth of meaning behind them and what I can learn about myself in the process.

Dear God, let me start by saying that I misunderstood what Charlie said in relation to “power.” I thought he said, “There’s no PARITY like power.” Obviously, this really changes the meaning, and I’m not sure my “parity” holds up except that this is a song about paradoxes and the idea that “power” and “parity” are more alike that we know is interesting to play with.

“There’s no parody like power”

But that’s not what it says (and I’ve checked several sources to make sure). “There is no parody like power.” When I think of “parody,” my first thoughts are of Saturday Night Live and the sketches they do. Not always, but often they are mocking people in power. Whomever the president happens to be at the time. Celebrities. Various politicians or business executives. They exercise power in different ways, and SNL delights in finding the joke in what they think of themselves. Maybe that’s the way to analyze power: the person with the power’s perception of themselves, and the perception of those who are influenced by their power.

“Power” is probably a more pervasive part of our lives than we realize. There are the obvious examples: politicians, bosses, etc. But then there are others like parents/guardians. But what we probably don’t think about enough is the slow burn that an emotionally abusive person does to someone else. My wife and I were on a long car ride yesterday for our vacation and we listened to a book she wanted me to hear. In it, the main character is a woman who was in an emotionally abusive marriage, and on the day she was ready to get in the car and leave her husband he ended up dying in a freak car accident. Later in the book, she is explaining to someone how mean he was to her even though everyone else in the world thought he was wonderful. I couldn’t help but wonder while we were driving if there is ANY part of me that makes my wife feel that way. Am I ANY different behind closed doors than I am in public? Of course, there are things she knows about me that no one else knows, but is my character different? How do I make her feel about herself? It’s the kind of question you ask yourself, but you’re almost afraid to say it out loud and ask your wife.

So what is the parody of that kind of power? Well, I suppose it’s the idea that it isn’t legitimate at all. That kind of power is derived through intimidation. But in the grand scheme of things, even if I am mean to my wife in order to either get my way or somehow make my insecure self feel better, what I have is nothing in the reality of the universe. Demons are still working. Satan still has his plans. I will still have to answer to you one day. And our time here is so, so short compared to eternity. Any power I would create for myself would be an absolute joke to you. Yes, from your perspective, I would imagine that there is, indeed, no parody like the power we create for ourselves. And you showed us what power really looks like through the servant leadership of Jesus. He gave guidance and taught people what they needed to know, but he also served and loved. He accepted the sinner, but also told them to sin no more. That kind of power is not a parody at all.

“There’s no fever like desire”

Of course, there are different kinds of “fever.” In this case, I think Charlie is referring to this definition of fever:

a state of nervous excitement or agitation.

“I was in a fever of expectation”

I am sure a lot of people have said this over the years, but I think I first heard C.S. Lewis say that the desiring of something can be more powerful and even fulfilling than the having of it. For example, in my life right now I am really wanting a new bicycle trainer that I can use indoors over the winter. At the end of the day, I’m probably looking at about $1,200 to $1,500 to get everything set up just the way I want it. I’ve spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos about what I want. I’ve looked at websites. I’ve watched commercials. I’ve talked to my local bike shop. I really want one of these things and I’m looking toward to the day when I can get one. But I can also say that the “desire” for this thing triggers something in my brain that pushes me forward. Do I need it? That’s debatable. If pressed, I could make a case for it. But I certainly “desire” this thing. It is a fever.

So how do I keep this fever for things, even power, from controlling me? How do I keep them from becoming my idol? How do I keep from looking to them for my happiness instead of you? Those are the important questions. And the answer is through self-discipline. Through intentionally denying myself or delaying my gratification. I have been looking at lot at Solomon lately. Maybe one of his problems was that he never put his “desire” in check and the more he accumulated the more he pursued. It is a “fever” that won’t break because the “desire” for something can be more powerful than actually having it.

—

Father, when it comes down to power and desire, part of me submitting my life to you is dying to these things. It is disciplining myself to spend time in worship of you and communing with you. Then, as the Holy Spirit finds good soil in my heart within which he can work, he will plant seeds in me that will grow. Those seeds will teach me to see the world and others as you see them. They will teach me that “power” is a “parody.” They will teach me that “desire” is a “fever” that must be broken. And then He will help me apply those lessons to my life. Oh, Holy Spirit, teach me gently.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 29, 2019 in “No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock, Hymns and Songs

 

Tags: , , ,

“No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock – No lie like independence, no demon like control

27 Jul

“No Insult Like The Truth” By Charlie Peacock

I’ve run my ship aground
on the rocks of the soul
There’s no lie like independence
there’s no demon like control
I’ve fanned the burning embers
til my house was on fire
There’s no parody like power
There’s no fever like desire
I’ve drained the wine of darkness
to the dregs of deceit
There’s no drug as strong as pride
There’s no blindness like conceit
I’ve railed against the mountain
With a pickaxe and a file
There’s no minefield like presumption
There’s no death wish like denial

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

I’ve adjusted my prescription
til I couldn’t trust my vision
there’s no killer like convenience
there’s no sickness like omission
I’ve amended resolutions and resisted explanation
There’s no trap door like emotion
There’s no pit like reputation

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion
There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

This is part of a series dissecting the song “No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock. In the series, I am taking two of the statements he makes and exploring the depth of meaning behind them and what I can learn about myself in the process.

Dear God, it’s time to dig in and spend some time with that.

Part 1: There’s no like like independence.

I looked up the definition of independence today. Of course, there were many. The basic idea, however, is that you are able to do it. Yourself. No accountability. No help. No need for help.

My first thought is to think of a child becoming an adult. Becoming independent. Of course, they want that independence long before they are ready for it. It’s probably the root of most of the conflicts that teen children have with their parents. Okay, children of all ages, including toddlers.

But here’s the secret. We are never independent. Unless we move to the woods, forage for our own food and build our own shelter with our bare hands (no tools made by someone else), we will always be in need of something that someone else does. Business people need customers and staff. They need suppliers and deals. Consumers need home builders/apartments, grocery stores, banks, etc. Just to live, we need community.

But on a deeper level, we all benefit from people who reach out and help us, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. My dad is very accomplished, but he is quick to tell anyone the long list of people who impacted his life and helped him achieve what he did. He didn’t do it “on his own” even though he would be considered a “self-made man.” For me in my life, beyond my parents, I have had several people who have blessed me and helped me over the years. As the director of a nonprofit, we depend on literally hundreds (actually over 1,000) of people every year to do what we do.

Then there’s you. I need you. I need the forgiveness and love that you give to me. I need the accountability. I need it for peace. I need it because a truly independent life is a lonely life.

Yes, I think it is fair to say that there is no lie like independence.

Part 2: There’s no demon like control.

What are the things I try to control? I try to control myself. In fact, one of the “fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23 is self-control. But good self-control is something that flows from being in right relationship with you and the Holy Spirit living in me. It isn’t something that I can will. Paul makes that clear in Romans 7:15-20.

What about controlling others. As I think about it this morning, I wonder if this is what is behind a lot of our current national angst. Is the reason a lot of us feel the need to put our opinions up so freely on social media because we are needing to feel like we can control something that we want to control. Do I want to control what is happening politically? Religiously? Socially? Is that Satan’s primary tool that he uses to divide us? Control?

I’m about to head out on vacation today. What kind of control will I try to exercise in the name of leisure? Will I try to dictate our schedule? Our driving route? Our menu and meals? What we listen to? Our conversation? And if I do, what kind of division will it cause between my wife and me and how much will Satan enjoy that?

That example can be applied to a lot of things. Control is selfishness–the root sin. Independence is it’s cousin.

—

Father, help me to die to myself enough to recognize that I am completely dependent upon you and others. Let my pride go by the wayside so that I might be a blessing to others instead. And help me to be part of building them up as well. Help me to go through the next week thinking about giving up control and enjoying the freedom you offer.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 27, 2019 in “No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock, Galatians, Hymns and Songs, Romans

 

Tags: , , ,

“No Insult Like The Truth” by Charlie Peacock

26 Jul

“No Insult Like The Truth” By Charlie Peacock

I’ve run my ship aground
on the rocks of the soul
There’s no lie like independence
there’s no demon like control
I’ve fanned the burning embers
til my house was on fire
There’s no parody like power
There’s no fever like desire
I’ve drained the wine of darkness
to the dregs of deceit
There’s no drug as strong as pride
There’s no blindness like conceit
I’ve railed against the mountain
With a pickaxe and a file
There’s no minefield like presumption
There’s no death wish like denial

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

I’ve adjusted my prescription
til I couldn’t trust my vision
there’s no killer like convenience
there’s no sickness like omission
I’ve amended resolutions and resisted explanation
There’s no trap door like emotion
There’s no pit like reputation

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion
There’s no cancer like ambition
There’s no cure like crucifixion

There’s no gunshot like conviction
There’s no conscience bulletproof
There’s no strength like utter weakness
There’s no insult like the truth

Dear God, I can’t believe I’ve never journaled about this song before. When it came out, over 20 years ago, I thought about writing a companion book to go with it. My vision was a chapter title that would go with each little statement Charlie Peacock makes. For example, there would be a chapter called “There’s No Lie Like Independence.” Then I would explore the word “independence” and see what kind of truths there are in it. Frankly, it might horrify Charlie to think that someone took each word and phrase so seriously. I don’t know how carefully he picked each phrase in this song. But I think there’s a lot of depth to it.

With that being said, I think I want to do a series that will basically do a journal for each of the statements he makes. For tonight, let me write them here so I can see what I’m getting into:

  • There’s no like like independence.
  • There’s no demon like control.
  • There’s no parody like power.
  • There’s no fever like desire.
  • There’s no drug as strong as pride.
  • There’s no blindness like conceit.
  • There’s no minefield like presumption.
  • There’s no death wish like denial.
  • There’s no killer like convenience.
  • There’s no sickness like omission.
  • There’s no trap door like emotion.
  • There’s no pit like reputation.
  • There’s no cancer like ambition.
  • There’s no cure like crucifixion.
  • There’s no gun shot like conviction.
  • There’s no strength like utter weakness.
  • There’s no insult like the truth.

I’m about to spend the next 8 days on vacation and there are 16 of these here. I think what I’ll do is take them two at a time since that’s how Charlie groups them and then go from there. I hope this will be fun and I’ll get to hear your Holy Spirit speaking to me through this song I’ve heard so many times.

Father, before I close, I want to confess to you that I’ve not been as dependent upon or worshipful of you as I should have been lately. I’m sorry. I’ve taken credit for things that you have done. I’ve taken your glory for myself. I’m very sorry. Thank you. Thank you for everything good. Thank you for every struggle. My I always deflect any glory that comes my way and point others to you. You are amazing.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 26, 2019 in “No Insult Like the Truth” by Charlie Peacock, Hymns and Songs

 

Tags: ,

The Evolution of Worship Music (560-2017 A.D.)

15 Jul

The Evolution of Worship Music (560-2017 A.D.)

Dear God, the link above is to a YouTube video I saw on Facebook this morning. It got me to thinking about the thousands of years of worshippers of you with whom I’m linked.

First, I didn’t realize “Be Thou My Vision” is from 560 A.D. on my phone’s “Christian” playlist it is the first song. I only knew it was Irish because I heard Rich Mullins reference it once. Well, when I checked and say that St. Patrick did his thing in Ireland about 150 years before this, the timing of the writing of the hymn fits. So for nearly 1,500 years Christians have embraced the poetry of this song, asking you to be their vision.

One thing that these worship songs do is help us to build community. They give us words and thoughts to sing to you together with others and they give us a connection to other Christians, both of our own time and from past generations. “Amazing Grace.” “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” “Pass It On.” All of these songs join me with other Christians from around the world. In fact, the one thing that can be frustrating when I visit a church is when they either sing hymns I don’t know, sing different words to a familiar tune, or sing the words I know to a strange tune. In those moments, I’m looking for that comfort that comes from community.

Community. I could go on for a while about that, but I won’t here. Maybe that’s for another day. But Father, I do want to thank you for music. Thank you for the ones who wrote these songs to contribute to your kingdom. Thank you for teaching so many of them to me through community. Help me to carry them into my daily life and use them to bond me to the body of Christ.

I Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 15, 2019 in Hymns and Songs

 

“The Valley Song (Sing of Your Mercy)” by Jars of Clay

16 Jun

“The Valley Song (Sing of Your Mercy)” by Jars of Clay

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I’m crying out to You

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death, like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear You aren’t listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness
And the hunger
For a faith that assures

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

Though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

Songwriters: Aaron Sands / Charlie Lowell / Dan Haseltine / Matt Odmark / Stephen Daniel Mason

Dear God, this Father’s Day is less painful for me than past Father’s Days have been, but I still found myself being very aware this morning that Father’s Day and Mother’s Day can be very painful for some. I know several people who are experiencing their first Father’s Day without a child that they lost–some within just the last couple of weeks. I know some who have children leading lives that grieve their parents. Frankly, there are countless reasons Father’s Day can be painful for people, including having lost their own father.

With all of that in mind, I came across this song this morning. I’ve had it on my playlist for a long time, but I really stopped to listen to it while I was driving on a road trip earlier this week. I think it works because it doesn’t gloss over pain or tell me that my job is to push through to the other side. It simply says that sing of your mercy through my pain.

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I’m crying out to You

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

As I pray all of this to you, I am thinking about three friends, in particular, who are experiencing the grief of having lost a child in the last year. One of the things I learned when watching my wife go through the loss of her mother is to encourage people to allow themselves to be sad. Don’t try to be the person who is handing it “well.” Just let it be sad. For these friends, I sing these words this morning.

When death, like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear You aren’t listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness
And the hunger
For a faith that assures

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

“But I fear you aren’t listening because there are no words. Just the stillness and the hunger for a faith that assures.” Sometimes, all we have is a faith that is beyond what we can see (Hebrews 11:1). And I believe that this is when we really have the Holy Spirit groaning for us with utterances beyond words. Our advocate and our helper is with us, walking with us, and praying for/with us (Romans 8:26).

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

Though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

I love that the spirit of this song is to simply sink into the pain and wait on your healing. And yet, in the midst of the pain, we keep singing. We sing of your mercy that leads us through valleys of sorrow to the rivers of joy. One day, there will be not just one river, but many rivers of joy for us. There is a hope. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 
1 Comment

Posted by on June 16, 2019 in Hebrews, Hymns and Songs, Romans

 

Tags: , , , ,

“Home Free” by Wayne Watson

12 Jun

“Home Free” by Wayne Watson

I’m trying hard not to think you unkind
But Heavenly Father
If you know my heart
Surely you can read my mind
Good people underneath the sea of grief
Some get up and walk away
Some will find ultimate relief

Home Free, eventually
At the ultimate healing we will be Home Free
Home Free, oh I’ve got a feeling
At the ultimate healing
We will be Home Free

Out in the corridors we pray for life
A mother for her baby, A husband for his wife
Sometimes the good die young
It’s sad but true
And while we pray for one more heartbeat
The real comfort is with you

You know pain has little mercy
And suffering’s no respecter of age, of race or position
I know every prayer gets answered
But the hardest one to pray is slow to come
Oh Lord, not mine, but Thy will be done
Let it be…

Home Free, eventually
At the ultimate healing gonna be Home Free
Home Free, oh its more than a feeling
At the ultimate healing
Gonna be Home Free

Songwriters: Bernard Sumner / Gillian Lesley Gilbert / Peter Hook / Stephen Paul David Morris

Dear God, I think I first heard this song around 1992 or 1993. I was a sales rep for Word, the label for Wayne Watson at the time, and I remember being really struck by the words to this song. Now, 26-ish years later, I know it word for word. The amazing thing is how little death I have experienced from my family of origin. At 49, on my side of the family, I haven’t lost anyone beyond grandparents. My parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins are all still living. But I have watched my wife and her family suffer terrible and tragic losses. The hardest for her was her mother, but she only has one biological aunt remaining, having lost three uncles. Two of her cousins have lost children in horrible accidents. Tragic.

Then there are times when I read a Facebook post like this morning’s from a distant high school friend who lost her mother yesterday. She has simply posted this meme.

I know that’s so true after walking that path with my wife nine years ago–and even still today. So this prayer is for this high school friend, my wife, and everyone else I know who has experienced loss like this recently, including my friend who, last week, discovered his adult daughter, who had died overnight, and the other friend who lost her adult son in a car accident just last week.

Father, you are our ultimate comfort and hope. Help us to know what that means. Help my friends and my wife to discover that hope in a new way. Reveal to us your truth. And let us not forget that it’s okay for us to suffer in loss through death. Jesus suffered too when friends died. Something within us builds around them, and when they are removed it’s just huge. And obviously there’s nothing worse than a child or a parent dying, followed closely I would imagine by spouses and then siblings. Regardless, for these friends and my wife, please comfort them. Help them to just sink into your arms. They will mourn. They will be devastated. Help them to know that it’s okay. They don’t have to rationalize it. They don’t even have to try to convince themselves of the truth of this son so that they will “feel better.” Be their God. Help them to find their comfort in you through others around them.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
1 Comment

Posted by on June 12, 2019 in Hymns and Songs

 

Tags: , , ,

“Even If” by MercyMe

10 Jun

“Even If” by MercyMe

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I’m losing bad
I’ve stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it’ll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can’t

It’s easy to sing
When there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I’m held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now

But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

You’ve been faithful, You’ve been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
‘Cause I know You’re able
I know You can

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Songwriters: Bart Millard / Ben Glover / Crystal Lewis / David Garcia / Tim Timmons

Dear God, this song hits me on a few levels. Let’s just dive in. There’s obviously the part of a person struggling with life and trying to lean into you for comfort and provision. But then it starts with the aspect of the singer being a public minister who, to some extent, is putting on a show for people and trying to tell them to trust you while simultaneously experiencing his own doubts:

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I’m losing bad
I’ve stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it’ll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can’t

It’s easy to sing
When there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I’m held to the flame
Like I am right now

A few years ago, I was asked to preach for a friend at the local Episcopal church. What made it complicated was that my own family was going through a terrible time and I didn’t feel like I had a legitimate right to tell anyone how to live their life. I remember struggling with that and actually referencing it during the sermon.

On the other hand, the worst sermon I ever heard was a man who got up on Father’s Day in 2014 and talked about every good and correct thing he had done as a father and how great his kids had turned out. I cannot imagine that that sermon did anyone in the audience any good other than perhaps some young parents with infants who were looking for good parenting tips. I suspect that a lot of the rest of us were feeling condemned.

So I can appreciate the fact that this song puts it all on the table, and in a way that doesn’t share too much personally but helps the band communicate to the audience that there is this struggle in their own lives. It’s a little like Facebook and only seeing others’ best parts of their lives. It’s not appropriate for me to put a lot of personal information about me or family members on that platform, but it is important to somehow communicate to others that my life is as challenging as theirs is. That’s how we bless others and we all grow. That’s how we sharpen each other.

Then there is the other part of this song. The struggle. And I see two aspects of what it’s communicating. The first is the chorus when it basically says that sometimes the struggle is part of the intended journey.

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

There was a song by Scott Krippayne back in the 90s called “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” that meant a lot to me. The chorus said, “Sometimes he calms the storm with a whispered, ‘Peace be still.’ He can settle any sea, but it doesn’t mean he will. Sometimes he holds us close as the wind and waves go wild. Sometimes he calms the storm, but other times he calms his child.” Same thing. Sometimes, the storm is part of the journey. Paul had to go through prison. Jesus had to go through the 40 days of fasting and then the temptation. As I look back, I am certainly a better man and more useful to you because of the experiences.

Finally, there’s the part about feeling like my faith in you just isn’t adequate. Do I really believe?

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now

I cannot count the number of times I’ve prayed to you, “Father, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:21-24). I wish my faith was greater. I really do. Thank you for loving me anyway.

Father, as I close this prayer, I guess I have three things I want to say. First, thank you for everything–the good and the bad. I know that you don’t necessarily cause the bad things to happen, but I am certain that you are my shepherd through them. Second, I promise to be as transparent as possible for the strengthening of not only my own soul, but so that the pain and struggle will not return void and others can be comforted or encouraged by me. And third, I promise to bring all of my faith to the table. I won’t leave anything back as I worship you and believe, not necessarily that you will calm my storm, but that you will use whatever I experience for your glory if I sacrifice it to you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
1 Comment

Posted by on June 10, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, Mark

 

Tags: , , , ,

Passion Week – The Resurrection of Christ: John 20:1-10

21 Apr

The above image is from Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups by Ned Bustard. It is titled “Christ Risen” and was created by Edward Knippers.

John 20:1-10 [ESV]
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’s head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Dear God, I’m so grateful this morning. I’ve spent the week trying to sink into the depths of this Passion. Sure, I didn’t really go all the way. I had work. I had other things that took my attention. But I can say that this is likely the most thoughtful I’ve ever been about Holy Week. And here we are.

When I woke up this morning and made my breakfast, I played four songs. “Sunday’s on the Way” by Carman, “He’s Alive” by Don Francisco, “Easter Song” by Keith Green, and then “Gotta Tell Somebody” by Don Francisco. The first three were about Easter and Jesus’s resurrection in one way or another while the fourth was about a grateful father who just had to tell somebody what Jesus did for him. It was fun and worshipful. You are alive! And you have done great things for me.

Father do I “gotta tell somebody?” Have I counted my blessings and shared your greatness and mercy with others? Do I live with the joy that you are alive? Help me to do better. Live through me. Love through me. Let you kingdom come and your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on April 21, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, John, Passion Week, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 20:17-19

02 Apr

Matthew 20:17-19 [NLT]
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man[a] will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Dear God, the biggest thing I think of when it comes to passages like this is that, on the rare occasions when you give us insights into the future (and they are very rare), they are more about comforting and reassuring us than they are about letting us in on the secret. In this case, the disciples didn’t have to know this information in order for it to all happen. In fact, their response to this knowledge might have gotten in the way. But the reason you NEEDED them to know was that you knew that they would need to be able to remember back to these moments and realize that this was part of the plan all along. Twenty or 30 years down the road, as Matthew thought back on this and put pen to paper, he could be assured that this was all okay.

I can’t say that I’ve gotten a lot of words of prophecy from you. One of my many one-liners is that you keep me on a need-to-know basis and I very rarely need to know. But I can almost always look back on events in my life and see your providence, even when, at the time, I felt like all was lost. I have had some trials (no worse than anyone else’s to be sure), but I can almost always look back on them after a good amount of time and see what you were doing for me, for those I love, or within me to grow me into a place where you need me to be.

Father, thank you for your patience with me. There’s a Keith and Melody Green song called “Make My Life A Prayer To You.” In it, there’s a line that says, “I want to thank you now for being patient with me. It’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me. So I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what you say. Lord, you’re coming again. Coming to take me away.” So to finish this prayer with the chorus of that song, “Make my life a prayer to you. I want to do what you want me to . No empty words and no white lies. No token prayers. No compromise. I want to shine the light you gave through your son you sent to save us from our self and our despair. It comforts me to know you’re really there.”

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on April 2, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, Matthew

 

Tags: , , , ,

“Asleep in the Light” by Keith Green

30 Mar

“Asleep in the Light” by Keith Green

Do you see?
Do you see?
All the people sinking down?
Don’t you care?
Don’t you care?
Are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb?!
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done

“oh, bless me, lord!
Bless me, lord!”
You know, it’s all I ever hear!
No one aches,
No one hurts,
No one even sheds one tear
But, he cries,
He weeps,
He bleeds,
And he cares for your needs
And you just lay back,
And keep soaking it in

Oh, can’t you see such sin?!
’cause he brings people to your door,
And you turn them away
As you smile and say,
“god bless you!
Be at peace!”
And all heaven just weep,
’cause Jesus came to your door,
You left him out on the streets

Open up! open up!
And give yourself away
You see the need,
You hear the cries,
So how can you delay?!
God is calling,
And you are the one
But like Jonah, you run
He told you to speak,
But you keep holding it in

Oh, can’t you see such sin?!
The world is sleeping in the dark,
That the church just can’t fight,
’cause it’s asleep in the light!
How can you be so dead?!
When you’ve been so well famed
Jesus rose from the grave,
And you!
You can’t even get out of bed!

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead!
Come on, get out of your bed!
How can you be so numb?!
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done!
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done!
Don’t close your eyes,
Don’t pretend the job is done

Come away! come away!
Come away with me, my love!
Come away from this mess,
Come away with me, my love!
Come away from this mess!
Come away with me, my love!
Come away,
Come away with me my love!

Dear God, I have the honor and privilege of getting to preach tomorrow to a group of people who are very precious. So what is it that you need them to hear?

As I was working through the Presbyterian church’s prescribed liturgy for this Sunday, the Old Testament reading was out of Joshua 5, which I journaled about last Sunday to kick this week off. That’s kind of set the tone for the week. The Promised Land. They had arrived. The men got circumcised and they were expected to start supplying their own food from the land–you turned off the supply of manna. Now it was time to go and take the land.

When they first left Egypt, I would imagine that they didn’t necessarily think through what going back to the Promised Land about which Moses told them would cost them. They might have seen it as their reward for years of slavery. But that wasn’t it. This was just the next chapter for them as a people. It would be hard. They would have to devote themselves to you first. They would have to fight. They would have to struggle. That is how their people would survive and how you would eventually bless the world–through Israel as a nation. As much as their lives were not about “them” while they lived generation after generation in slavery in Egypt, their lives were still not about them. They were about you. They were about your plan.

As I sat down to pray to you this morning, I wanted to clear my head and get focused so I turned to the Christian music on my iPod. I wondered what I should listen to, and I heard a nudging for Keith Green. Eventually, I landed on this song. I think it’s perfect for what I’m talking about in the spirit of taking the Promised Land. “Asleep in the light.” Isn’t that what a lot of us are? Asleep in the light? Isn’t that what I am a lot of the time?

So what will I preach tomorrow? The message is going to be that it’s time to take the land. This particular church has been in limbo through various setbacks for too long. They are now muddled in fear and frustration. They are mired in lethargy. This might sound harsh, but it feels like it’s true. They are too concerned about what is happening within their doors and not concerned enough with what is happening in the neighborhood around them. The message will be, “God has supplied you with manna and he has given you talents, but now it is time to wean yourselves from the manna and start working for your community. It is time to start taking the land. And it starts with personal commitment (see the mass circumcision in Joshua 5:2-8). What will you do to bring commit yourselves to God and bring your talents to the table? What will you do to see that this church advances into the Promised Land and doesn’t flounder in the wilderness? When will you look around and see the world around you dying?

Father, help me to do this well.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on March 30, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories, Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , ,

← Older posts
Newer posts →