Tuesday, March 30, 2010

What Do You Ask a Drowning Man?

Growing up, our family did not have the luxury of having a pool in our backyard.  Not a big deal while we lived in Oregon.  On the warm days, we would drive to a lake close by our house, or even the coast.

Sometimes our family would vacation with our relatives in Michigan.  As a kid, I always had a blast with our extended family in the Mid-West.  We would usually stay for around 10 days or so and in that time; we would shuffle from home to home.  All of them had a pool in their back yard – which was great for us.  In the warm mugginess, it was great to cool off in their pools.

One time, me and my younger brother were swimming at a pool that belonged to our aunt and uncle.  This particular on, was the largest of all of our relatives pools.  It had a diving board and went from 3 feet deep to 9 feet.  This was fantastic!  We had a blast – although neither of us was old enough to go swimming in the deeper end.  It didn’t matter both of us were satisfied swimming in the shallow end.

Then it happened.

The walls and floor of the pool were a type of vinyl that was rather slippery.  My brother was close to the drop off to the deep end.  That is correct.  It wasn’t a gradual decline; it was a quick drop into 9 feet of water.  My brother was on that line.  Then he slipped, and was slipping down.

In a brief moment a six year old and a nine year old were in deep panic.  Within the context of nanoseconds decisions had to be made.  What was supposed to happen?  He was slipping and going down.  What was I supposed to do?

Should I run into the house to get help?
Should I scream for help?
Should I wait for someone to come?
Should I go look for some sort of life saving devise?
Should I have asked him if he wanted help?
If he did want help, should I ask him if he wanted me to help?

Although it probably didn’t register in my head this way, but it’s pretty obvious that no one asks a drowning man if they want to be saved.

We just do it. 
We just help.

Isn’t that the situation of every non-believer that is around us?  Are they not on a slippery slope to hell?  At this very moment, are they not in blatant rebellion against God and bound to eternal separation from Him?

And I hesitate.
Do you?

Oh God, give me the strength to move beyond myself and love others as You love them.  Father, I want to lift up my neighbors to You.  I can’t change them.  Only You can.  Bring them the love of Your Son.  If there is a way that You can use me, please do so.

Needless to say, I pushed my brother to the shallow end.  He was safe again.  No harm done.  By the time we were done swimming we forgot what even happened in the pool.  Meanwhile, my “neighbor” is sitting in the office right next to mine.

What Do You Live For?

We're half-hearted creatures fooling with drink & sex & ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We're too easily pleased. - C.S. Lewis

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Family Worship Guide for Easter

Easter Devotion for Families 


From Ministry to Children


Here is a simple devotional guide to help families worship Christ together during Easter time. It might be ideal for Saturday evening before Resurrection Sunday. Family Worship is the regular and intentional assembling as a family unit to worship God by reading scripture, praying and singing praise. This brief worksheet will help you lead your family in a short time of devotion on Saturday. Children should be involved as much as their age allows. This devotions should last between 15-25 minutes.

Step 1: Gather the family

If this is a new experience for your family, keep it very simple. Have the whole family gather in the living room together. Even the very young children should participate. Turn off any radios or televisions that might be distractions.

Step 2: Read scripture

If your children are confident readers, ask them to read portions of scripture from their bibles. Prepare in advance to explain any difficult words.
  • Read Mark 15:33-47: Discuss v.35 where Jesus says to God “why have you forsaken me?” Explain this was Jesus quoting Psalm 22, which foretold what would happen to the Christ. As Jesus took on our sins, he suffered the great punishment in our place. He became our substitute and took what we deserved.
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: Discuss the central elements to the Easter story. (Died, buried, raised, appeared to witnesses).  Discuss the importance of the phrase “according to the scriptures.” Explain that Jesus’ death was predicted and promised in the Hebrew Bible. Discuss the importance of Jesus appearing to many witnesses. Explain this was a real historical event, not something imaginary. Many real people saw it.

Step 3: Pray

Lead the family in a time of prayer. Include elements of Praise, Thanksgiving, Confession and Requests. The pray time should focus on the passages you have just read and be a response of worship to God.

Step 4: Sing

Select a song that is familiar to your family. Using a worship CD may be helpful. Many families prefer to sing without background music. Choose songs that remind you of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.  Sojourn Kids has posted some wonderful original music you can use. “The Cross Is Not The End” and “God’s Love Goes On Forever

Friday, March 26, 2010

New Music Friday - NeedToBreathe

NeedToBreathe first began in 1999 by playing songs in front of mostly coffee house audiences at Furman University, where Bear was a standout wide receiver for the Furman Paladins football team. After graduation, Bear and Bo Rinehart and Joe Stillwell joined with Seth Bolt in 2002, releasing independent albums that were recorded in bassist Seth Bolt's Plantation Studios.

NeedToBreathe built an impressive regional following, playing throughout the Southeast. Along the way, they sold more than 15,000 copies of their self-released EP's, recorded by Seth, who had earned a degree in record engineering. 2006 saw the release of the band's major label debut, Daylight. They returned the following year with The Heat, which spawned the hit single "More Time," a top 10 success at Triple-A radio (sitting alongside established artists like Coldplay and Jack Johnson).


On their latest album, The Outsiders, NeedToBreathe has truly come into their own, seamlessly blending ambient, arena-ready soundscapes with a decidedly Southern sensibility.


Air 1 - NEEDTOBREATHE "Washed By The Water" LIVE from Air 1 Radio on Vimeo.


NeedToBreathe links can be found here:
Wikipedia
MySpace
Facebook
Web
YouTube

Freedom From Sin - Spurgeon

"Jesus said unto them, If ye seek Me, let these go their way."
--John 18:8 

Mark, my soul, the care which Jesus manifested even in His hour of trial, towards the sheep of His hand! The ruling passion is strong in death. He resigns Himself to the enemy, but He interposes a word of power to set His disciples free. As to Himself, like a sheep before her shearers He is dumb and opened not His mouth, but for His disciples' sake He speaks with Almighty energy. Herein is love, constant, self-forgetting, faithful love. But is there not far more here than is to be found upon the surface? Have we not the very soul and spirit of the atonement in these words? The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep, and pleads that they must therefore go free. The Surety is bound, and justice demands that those for whom He stands a substitute should go their way.

In the midst of Egypt's bondage, that voice rings as a word of power, "Let these go their way." Out of slavery of sin and Satan the redeemed must come. In every cell of the dungeons of Despair, the sound is echoed, "Let these go their way," and forth come Despondency and Much-afraid. Satan hears the well-known voice, and lifts his foot from the neck of the fallen; and Death hears it, and the grave opens her gates to let the dead arise. Their way is one of progress, holiness, triumph, glory, and none shall dare to stay them in it. No lion shall be on their way, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon. "The hind of the morning" has drawn the cruel hunters upon himself, and now the most timid roes and hinds of the field may graze at perfect peace among the lilies of his loves. The thunder-cloud has burst over the Cross of Calvary, and the pilgrims of Zion shall never be smitten by the bolts of vengeance.

Come, my heart, rejoice in the immunity which thy Redeemer has secured thee, and bless His name all the day, and every day.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Thought du Jour – Love Jesus, Love People

Some good thoughts from John Johnston's Blog:

I think many people love what Jesus does for them without loving Jesus. There is a big difference. Consider...

Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” - John 14:15

“And this is (God’s) commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ and love one another, just as has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them.” - 1 John 3:23-24

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” - 1 John 4:20-21

Jesus Gave Up Everything For His Bride.


Here is a familiar story…
I just wanted to be heard.  Is that really too much to ask?  For once in my life, I just wanted to have to share what I have been through and all of my junk… and she wanted nothing to do with it.

It’s not too much to ask for, is it?  What about all my problems?
My bad day…
Job going bad…
Friends being weird…
This is not what I planned for…
My past…

Oh sure, I HAD to listen to her, but why wouldn’t she listen to me?

Classic story, right men?  Often times it seems as if we have to listen, a lot, and our wives, not so much.

Here is the truth, our marriages are supposed to reflect the relationship that Jesus has with his bride.  Some would even say that they DO reflect it.  Now I know, I know – how can we truly reflect something that is impossible to reach?  After all, we are not Jesus.  We are not perfect.  We can’t truly love and cherish our wives like He does the church.

That command is not an excuse.  Nor a crutch.  We are not exempt from attempting at what the gospel declares. 

Picture this:  Jesus came to court his bride and did so by washing her with His Word.
He gave up His glory for us.
He had to remove His crown for us.
He couldn’t talk to His Father face to face.
He didn’t have the fellowship of the Trinity.
He was not in Heaven.
He was living among sin.
He was being tempted to sin.  Continually.
He was not being worshiped like He should.
He had the pressure of the world on Him.
He knew the physical pain that His life was leading to.
He knew the emotional pain that His life was leading to.
He knew the spiritual pain that His life was leading to.

And not once did he complain to His bride.
In fact, he did the opposite. 
John 13:4-10 “He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean…”

I know that our first thought is to share our _________ (fill in the blank here) with our wives and tell them how hard our life is, but what our wives really need is for us to just wash their feet.

That’s all, just wash their feet.
For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross (Col. 1:19–20).


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

I Want to Believe God.

I don’t want to just believe in God anymore.
I want to believe God.

What I mean by that is that I don’t want to be identified with just the same belief that the demons have.  In the book of James we read that the demons believe in God.  I don’t want to settle for the same as that of a demon.

I don’t want to stop at believing in God.  I want to make sure that I am believing God.  Period.

For anyone can believe in God, but not everyone believes God.  Here is a list of promises from God for those who are His:

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  -- Romans 8:38-39

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -- 1 John 5:4-5

"The Lord remembers us and will bless us... he will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike. May the Lord make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." -- Psalm 115:12-15

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." -- Psalm 46:1-3

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." -- Psalm 18:2

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me." -- Psalm 138:7

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." -- Isaiah 43:1

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." -- Isaiah 40:29

What other promises are you believing today?

Cindy Morgan - Hymns Some Glad Morning

This from the Christianity Today Music site:

After winning a Songwriter of the Year Dove Award in 2008, Christian music veteran Cindy Morgan released Beautiful Bird, her first record independently of long-time label home, Word, to five-star critical acclaim. Now she has recorded Some Glad Morning, a full folk re-working of great hymns balanced by several of the songwriter's own hymn-inspired gems. This down-home album avoids the stereotypical hymns remake resort, instead turning in a true songwriter's delight. Whether old or new, liturgical lyrics mesh with a chorus of acoustic instrumentation (think steel guitar, banjos, upright bass) and the singer's graceful vocals to create yet another timeless Morgan musical montage.

You may purchase the new record here.

Monday, March 22, 2010

My Wife and I Argued And Neither of Us Won

I am not sure what happened or even how it happened, but it did.  The Saturday was like most other Saturdays – sleep in a bit, extended breakfast with the kids, some Saturday morning TV… Then *break* let’s get the day going.  Let’s clean up and start to work.  In the afternoon we can play.

Our Saturdays are typically like that.  We work a bit and try to play a bunch.

Some where in there, is usually a “honey-do-list.”  You know what those are.  The list of jobs hat our wives draw up for us men to tackle on each weekend.  Mine is typically not that hard – mainly because I don’t know how to do much stuff and I think Mary would prefer that I don’t wreck anything.  Often times, either on Friday night or early Saturday morning, I will add a few items that I would like to get done as well.  Sure, it makes the list a little longer, but it’s never overwhelming.

This Saturday was different though.  She had a list, as usual.  I had a list, as usual, except I didn’t share everything on my list with her.  My first thought was that “This won’t be a big deal.  She has some stuff to do outside the home and I can get my personal list done without her catching on.”  Well, like a typical Saturday it didn’t go as well as I planned.

Mary left to run her errand.  I put a few kids in charge of landscaping (yes, I did just type landscaping) our hedge area in the front of our house.  Then I left to do manly stuff… actually it was my stuff.  I justified it by taking some of my kids with me.  “See honey, I was spending quality time with our children.”  If I make her feel guilty enough, I will look good.

The problem was not that I was doing my thing, on my own.  I do stuff like that all the time.  I am not a toddler and I don’t need my wife “controlling” my every move.  I go to work on my own and I don’t have my wife help me, etc.  You get the idea here.  The problem was that I did not consider at any moment that the two of us were one.  It started in my mind.  She had her list and I had mine.  Jesus said in Mark 10:8 in teaching about marriage, “The two shall become one flesh.”  Paul furthers that in Eph 5:31, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  That is where all of this was going wrong.

There was her agenda (which she thought was ours) and then there was my agenda.  How wrong I was.

It ended up blowing into World War III. 

I had to repent.  I had to step forward and say that I was sorry.  I was in the wrong.  Jesus has never done this to His bride.  He came to serve His bride.  Was I serving mine by treating her this way?  Not at all.  I was selfishly thinking of myself.  Paul continues to Eph 5:33, “Let each one of you love his wife as himself.”  That concept was the furthest thing from me.

But then…  The grace of God came.  He is changing me.  He is changing us.  H is changing  me to see the joy of what marriage is all about.  That, honestly, when I am serving my wife, I am the happiest.  That sanctification is a process.  He who started a good work in us if faithful to bring it to completion.   

So, I didn't win here. 
In truth Mary didn't win either.
Christ did.  The Faithful One.  The cord that ties our marriage together.



Saturday, March 20, 2010

What Do You Want to Be Known For?

Earlier in 2010, there was a mass gathering of people in Vancouver BC, Canada for the Winter Olympic Games. All for the purpose of celebrating diversity in sports and the spirit of human ability. Hundreds of people entered to be the best in their sport category. Many played, few won. Medals were handed out and records were broken.

In November of 2009, the team from Guinness World Records organization decided it would be good to hold a "World Records Day," encouraging people all over the world to set their own records. You can see some of them by clicking here (viewer discretion is advised).

This one in particular, I thought was a little funny.

Joel Waul, 27, stands on top of his rubber band ball on the driveway of his home in Lauderhill, Fla., Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. Waul, a 27-year-old who works nights restocking a Gap clothing store, has spent the last six years carefully wrapping and linking and stretching rubber bands of various sizes into the ball shape. The Guinness Book of World Records declared it the world's largest rubber band ball in 2008. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Now, I don't want you to hear me saying that celebrating great feats of mankind should not be celebrated. I most definitely think we should. My family, like many others sat glued to our TV sets watching many of the past winter games. It was thrilling.

Even some of the recent Guinness World Records are creative, fun, exciting and thrilling - and need to be celebrated as well.

But my question or rather the reason for this post is what about you? What do you want to be known for?
Ski jumping?
Largest ball of yarn?
A messy home?
The husband of a frazzled wife?
The father of a family that is disconnected from the Word?

Men, I want to challenge you to step up and be the man that God has created you to be. No more slacking off. Today is the day. God has created us as federal heads of our homes. Let's take that label with gusto.
For our wives.
For our children.
For the church.
For the glory of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”

Friday, March 19, 2010

New Music Friday - The Trigger Code

I am hoping to start a new series here on the I Will Take Hold blog.  Every Friday I would like to introduce you to a new artist - at least that will be my hope.

First up - The Trigger Code.

Back in 2004, the now defunct record label signed an unknown by the name of Taylor Sorensen.  First full length record was aptly titled "The Overflow."  Here is some bio information from Rocketown Records:
When new Rocketown Records' artist Taylor Sorensen refers to common themes such as love, revolution or rock 'n' roll, he has anything but their common definitions in mind. The 23-year-old rock singer cuts through the surface to find the true significance of such often-cheapened words. It is this nave, unfaltering belief in the timeless that makes his thoroughly modern music stand out to audiences fortunate enough to hear it.
With the end of something (namely record contract) usually sparks something new.  Taylor continued singing around Nashville and anywhere else he and his band could.  He wasn't shy about playing and he played as much as he could.  Well, years go by and things change.  So they did for Taylor as well.  He dropped the "solo" gig and started a band, thus The Trigger Code was born.



The Trigger Code has new fervor.  They aren't playing a lot in Nashville currently, because they are working on a new record.  I have included a few links for you to check The Trigger Code out further on your own.  I would highly recommend that you snag this record for free while you can.




The Trigger Code on Facebook

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

I Am Committed

A love song.

Usually when we hear love songs on the radio (or the Disney channel), they are either one of two things:  mushy or depressing.  Why is that? 

The reason why, is because the "world" does not know how to celebrate great love.  Love that lasts forever.  Love that is committed.

In the Word, we certainly see the standard set.  Christ died for His holy bride.  In Eph. 5, Paul writes,
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body,

Here is a video from Sho Baraka, were he attempts to showcase the very thing.  Watch it, I hope you will be encouraged.



Men, let's rise up and commit ourselves to purity, righteousness, truth, love.  It's so worth it.  
For our kids.  
For our wives.  
For the Gospel.  
For the glory of Christ.

St Patrick Breast Plate - A Hymn

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.