Follow The Signs

This week I enjoyed a rare treat of blowing up explosives with an assault rifle.  The scope had an electronic laser inside of it that allowed me to successfully send an M4A1 bullet one hundred yards into a watermelon with a small bomb inside it.  I felt like I was playing Call of Duty again on the Xbox, which I gave up a long time ago after I realized I was gaining a dungeon tan and turning back into a ban (boy/man).  My dad refused to shoot the ninja gun with electronic scope and proceeded to sit on the ground with an old Winchester 270, that he refuses to put a scope on, because it is cheating.  He sat down a hundred yards out with his old gun in which I turned to my brother and said, "he'll never come close." Boom! He nails the target! I've come to realize my dad is a pretty cool guy not to mention smarter than me with most everything.  One of the things he said while we were out there shooting was that my great grandpa was very overwhelmed by how rapidly technology was introducing itself to the world.  Before he died he never quite figured out how to use a cell phone properly.  Wondering where my dad was going with the conversation he turned and said he currently feels overwhelmed in the same way by how frequent natural disasters are introducing themselves multiple times per year. "It's not normal", he said, "I don't care what those clowns are saying about it just being we are aware of all these things because of technology, it's not the little things I'm talking about, but the big stuff that is happening multiple times a year."  He said, "I might be old but we did have TV's and 60 minutes for crying out loud." My dad's right to notice this.  I was curious after the conversation and started looking up CNN columns written ten years ago, and news clips from ABC done ten just years ago http://archives.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/09/29/warming.disasters.reut/.  They were noticing this ten years ago and scientists were being overwhelmed by climate disruptions and natural disasters including earthquakes, extreme temperatures, famines, floods, slides, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and wind storms.  Jesus of course in Matt. 24 said these things would increase rapidly before the time of his return.  He referred to them as "birth pangs" vs. 8.  He told the people to keep oil in their lamps and to continue living for him even when things get nasty (Matt.25).  In John 21 the apostle John tells us that Jesus did many signs in the presence of his disciples, and that these signs were recorded in the gospel "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."  The greatest sign we have ever been given is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Signs are meant to point you in the right direction, or show you have arrived, or show you are going the wrong way.  I am excited to have an opportunity to respond to the sign of the King and live for Him.  I want to join with what he is doing to reconcile a broken world to Himself.  Jesus is not a limp wristed spritist.  He is the Son of God who died for the sins of the world offering the free gift of salvation to all who will receive Him. He has overcome sin, death, hell, and all those who worship the lie and will come again to establish justice and righteousness upon the earth.  Another sign we have been given is the reality of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us if we are truly a child of God.  "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom.8:16).  Turn to the Lord today, in a time of grace and be adopted into his kingdom and family as a son or daughter living for His glory.

The Importance Of Biblical Expression

One of the things we will be doing when the King returns is singing. Isaiah 12:5-6 states, "Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." The Hebrew word for "shout" means to cry out with great intensity.  In other words, when we see Him in our midst we will be expressing something physically and emotionally.

Depending on your background, which is probably filled with both good and bad examples of corporate worship, you are either way too reserved, or you are way too weird. There are a lot of words for "worship" in the Bible.  When you read your Bible in English, the English language does not have the means to express these differences and so I want to give you a list of some of these words to better help you worship with meaningful expression corporately and individually.  What follows is only a scratching of the surface.

Check out Psalm 34:1, "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
This word "bless" in the Hebrew is "barak" which means to specifically "kneel down".  You can't get that by reading the English.  Here it is again in Psalm 95:6, "Oh come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel 'barak"  before the Lord, our Maker!"  This physical expression can be expressed by a bowing of the head as well. 1 Chronicles 29:20 says, "Then David said to all the assembly, "Bless "barak" the Lord your God." And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king." This is an expression that is done out of awe and reverence towards the Lord Jesus for his victory over our sin.  It should be a humble confidence to pay homage to the King, not a condemning hanging of the head.  In many congregations this expression is no where to be found.

Here's another example.  Psalm 21:13 we read, "Be exalted, O Lord, in your stregth! We will sing and praise your power."
This word for "praise" is "zamar" which specifically means to play a guitar or other stringed instrument with your fingers!  And some people have divided their churches over whether or not to allow instruments!  This word is also used in Psalm 57:8, and 1 Chronicles 16:9.  The music expressed in the Psalms are anything but boring, drab, or without instruments.  

Here's another. Psalm 22:3, "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. This word "praises" is "tehilla" which means concretely  to sing a hymn.  God loves hymns!  It has been so exciting to see musicians singing hymns like "In Christ Alone" and "It Is Well" etc. Many well constructed hymns are jammed with the gospel truth.  The point of the word here is to have well constructed lyrics, rather than "it's all about me, Jesus."

Lifting of the hands is found multiple places in the scriptures.  There are different types of lifting the hands.  Here's one, Psalm 50:23 says, "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me."  Many translators translate "thanksgiving" with "praise" but the word is "todaw" which means to extend your hands in adoration and acceptance, thanking God for things not yet received, and things already at hand. If someone is lifting their hands high it ought to be expressed because of great thankfulness welling up in the heart, not because raising your hands is what you are supposed to do.  I have witnessed congregations believe that a lifting of the hands is a more spiritual expression.  Some people who are lifting their hands ought to have bowed their heads first to the gospel truth.  If you are full of anxiety towards unknowns, then lift your hands in expression of your reliance to God.  Another example of lifting the hands is found in Psalm 107:15, "Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!"  This word "thank" is "yawdaw" which means to hold out the hands with the expression of throwing something away or letting go of something.  This word is also used for making confession.  The Hebrews would extend their hand and place it on the head of the goat they would slaughter signifying their guilt and shame were being passed to the animal while with the other hand the throat of the animal would be slit.  In the same way we can extend out our hand recognizing Jesus made atonement for our sins by his blood.  I often do this while having communion as a powerful reminder of my dependency on Jesus. 

It's important to simply learn how to express what is going on within us.  This is pleasing to the Lord.  I am learning to communicate with my wife with much more intimacy, so that when she asks me, "how was your day", I can respond with more than..."fine".  May our worship be more than fine, but be vibrant and balanced to rightly reflect our relationship with him.  When the gathered church worships through the avenue of song, and the people are being open and honest with their God and each other, and the gospel is being grasped, the glory of God comes down. 

album almost ready for release!

I am excited to be wrapping up my new worship project come next month!  I've been amazed at how well it has been coming together.  The record will include 11 songs that are scripture driven and very acoustic mellow.  The songs have a mixture of cello, violin, piano, and some songs are simply me and a guitar.  I am experiencing a pressing desire to minister through the avenue of music and write more songs.  I am going to launch a personal website that will make my music available through itunes, amazon, and cd baby.  Bruce Milligan from Sound Ministries has been doing an excellent job with the recording and I am blessed to be getting to know him.  All that's left to record is the violin and vocals.  Jacob Balint has recorded piano, Olivia White on cello, Jacob again with the bass, and Michael Brown on banjo and harmonica on a song.  I am really thankful for their work on this project with me.  I'm looking forward to sharing it with you all.

blessings
Russell

One Anothers

It is really hard to do the following without being around others or without the Holy Spirit.

John 15:12 - Love one another
Romans 5:13 - Don't pass judgment on one another
Romans 12:5 - Be members of one another
Romans 12:10 - Honor one another
Romans 12:16 - Live in harmony with one another
Romans 14:19 - Build up one another
Romans 15:5 - Be like-minded toward one another
Romans 15:7 - Accept one another
1 Corinthians 12:25 - Care for one another
Galatians 5:13 - Serve one another in love
Galatians 5:26 - Don't provoke or envy one another
Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another
Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive one
another 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - Abound in love toward one another
1 Thessalonians 4:18 - Comfort one another
Titus 3:3 - Don't hate one another
Hebrews 3:13 - Encourage one another
Hebrews 10:24 - Stir up one another to love and good deeds
James 4:11 - Don't slander one another
James 5:9 - Don't bear grudges against one another
James 5:16 - Confess your sins to one another
1 Peter 4:9 - Offer hospitality to one another
1 Peter 5:14 - Greet one another
1 John 1:7 - Fellowship with one another
1 John 3:11 - Love one another
Ephesians 5:21- submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

My Precious

 

My Precious

I like to figure things out.  I am not sure I have ever successfully done so, but I am splendid at pretending.  In fact I don’t think I have ever fully understood my circumstances with a perfect clarity.  I find myself praying “Lord give me clarity” and “give me wisdom”.  Really, what I am saying is, “Lord, show me how to be arrogant and independent from you”.  There have been times when I thought I knew what was best, when in turn it wasn’t best at all.  The Lord turns it for best, but one of the ways he turns it for best is by teaching us not to trust ourselves anymore.  No wonder the proverbs are full of advice to seek the council of trusted others.  Every year that goes by I learn to trust myself less and less. 

Proverbs 3:5-8 declares, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” 

Yesterday, as I was pondering this verse, I got up to get some coffee and came back to find my mechanical pencil was missing.  I immediately knew with all certainty that my son Chase who is three had stolen it.  I yelled, “Chase give me my pencil back” thinking to myself “of course Chase couldn’t resist a  red mechanical pencil.”  Then I felt the pencil poke me in my right pocket.  Just another reminder. 

I am also learning that the best journeys end up answering questions that in the beginning I never thought of asking.  It’s always been this way.  God wants our hearts not our clarity, and his heart is what we really want, but we think we want our precious clarity like Gollum in Lord of the Rings wanted his precious ring.  We don’t easily learn from the lessons of history and that is the most important lesson of history, especially our own.  I can trust the Lord in my circumstances though I don’t have any answers in the midst of them, and I can trust the Lord if he doesn’t ever show me why.  He proved his goodness on the cross at Golgatha.  If he would go to execution in my stead, then I can trust he loves me in health or sickness, wealth or poverty.  Praise God for this journey and adventure. 

How Should We Worship Together?

How Should We Worship As The Gathered Church?

When we pray, we pray to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.  When we worship together as a church we worship the Son, in the Spirit, to the glory of the Father.  “the real circumcision , who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3).  The two ideas of worshipping in the Spirit and glorying in Christ should not escape our notice here.  They are inseparable. When the Spirit of God is at work within us, we most assuredly will be amazed with Jesus.  The Spirit’s chief mandate and focus is to bring glory to the Son, “He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14). This is all pleasing to the Father.  One day every knee will bow and tongue confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father” (Phil. 2:11).  All worship of the Son, inevitably points to the Father!  All worship to the Son must be understood to be further to the glory and majesty of the Father.  We could safely say that Christian worship must be worship of the Son, by the power of the Spirit, to the ultimate glory of the Father.  Worship is deeply satisfying when we engage in worshipping in Spirit and truth. 

How Can We Pray?

How Can We Pray?

Someone recently with all sincerity told me that prayer for them was confusing.  They said, “do I pray to Jesus, the Father, or the Holy Spirit?” Perhaps this has been a question you have wrestled with in your struggle with prayer.  Thankfully scripture is clear and simple as to how we are to pray.

In a very revealing and remarkable way Paul writes, “For through him [Christ] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). 

It’s short and simple, yet what is written speaks volumes as to how we are to pray. 

First, notice that we have “access to the Father.”  Our prayers should be directed to the Father just as Jesus taught us, “Our Father in heaven” (Matt.6:9). 

Second, our prayers are to be directed to the Father through the Son.  For it is through Christ and Christ alone that we can come “boldly into the throne room of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.4:16).  He is the one who had made a way for us to have restored relationship with the Father.  I do not come to the Father based on my own righteousness which are as “filthy rags” (Is. 64:6).  This is the rightful understanding of praying in Jesus name.  I can say “in Jesus name” at the end of my prayer and not be praying in Jesus’ name at all.  It’s great to say, “in Jesus’ name” if I am saying it with understanding of the gospel.

Third, on the question of the Spirit’s relation to prayer, “access in one Spirit,” Paul writes that all Christians should be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Eph. 6:18). The Spirit helps us to pray and listen in prayer (Rom. 8:26).

Rightfully understood prayer is to be directed to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.  Hope this helps you as you wrestle with the amazing adventure of prayer!