Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wind at my Back
This seemed the most apropos song for the new year, as we'll all need God's wind at our back to make it through.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Everything and Nothing
I've toyed with various ideas for a Christmas blog post, but as you might've guessed by this point, didn't settle on much of anything. But even if it's a few days after the fact, here is what I've settled on -- everything and nothing.
I think the lyrics of the song above capture what Christmas is all about:
"I'm lost and found, I'm saved and drowned,
I'm everything and nothing all at once.
I'm so far gone, but I'm already home, with everything and nothing but Your love"
Keep repeating those words as you picture in your mind the Christ child. He was everything -- the son of God, the child about whom angels sang, the child for whom a star shone to guide the Magi.
And yet he was nothing -- a helpless ball of flesh lying in a trough in some barn, born to fearful, trembling parents and facing a future that dictated he would be betrayed, beaten and killed.
He was both those things, because he was love. Love great enough to humble himself, to sacrifice himself and ultimately to rise again -- to be everything and nothing all at once.
Merry Christmas, indeed!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Forget What You Came For
They say if you can't do something right, don't do it at all. So for the past few months, I haven't been blogging. I have high hopes of more frequent posting ahead, but who knows?
Anyway, I was listening to some music for the first time in a while this week and ran across this song from a group called The Myriad. It's called "Forget What You Came For." In a nutshell, this song is about putting aside your worries and your hurries to focus on what matters -- just being still and listening to God.
For The Myriad, I imagine this song took on new meaning last November when drummer Randy Miller died after a two-year battle with cancer at age 39. Take a listen and may it move you to "quit making noise."
forget what you came for
and give up what you have
forget what you came for
and give up what you have
as all the lights go down you'll see
that things aren't what they seem
for the sounds that spin you around
will crush your bones
quit making noise
and lend an ear to the silent voice
and trust in the hope of a thousand ships
crashing down on the sea
forget what you came for
forget what you came for
forget what you came for
and give up what you have
unhealthy rust in your blood stream
a lifeless frost to plague your dreams
then all the ghosts that chill the air
come and jolt your bones
quit making noise
and become still for the silent voice
and quit making noise
and wait
...
forget what you came for
and give up what you love
Anyway, I was listening to some music for the first time in a while this week and ran across this song from a group called The Myriad. It's called "Forget What You Came For." In a nutshell, this song is about putting aside your worries and your hurries to focus on what matters -- just being still and listening to God.
For The Myriad, I imagine this song took on new meaning last November when drummer Randy Miller died after a two-year battle with cancer at age 39. Take a listen and may it move you to "quit making noise."
forget what you came for
and give up what you have
forget what you came for
and give up what you have
as all the lights go down you'll see
that things aren't what they seem
for the sounds that spin you around
will crush your bones
quit making noise
and lend an ear to the silent voice
and trust in the hope of a thousand ships
crashing down on the sea
forget what you came for
forget what you came for
forget what you came for
and give up what you have
unhealthy rust in your blood stream
a lifeless frost to plague your dreams
then all the ghosts that chill the air
come and jolt your bones
quit making noise
and become still for the silent voice
and quit making noise
and wait
...
forget what you came for
and give up what you love
Friday, June 17, 2011
Time doesn't stand still
It was the rock band Rush that sang:
(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Another piece of my experiences slipped away this week with the passing of my lone remaining grandparent.
The generational clock has struck midnight and the roles officially changed for the next psuedo-24 hours, if you will. My parents are my grandparents, I am my parents and my daughter is me.
Day-to-day, does much change? No, not when you were already a thousand miles away. But it's still a reminder that time doesn't stand still. The temporary clock is ticking, but there is an eternal clock, too.
So while I'm left with memories of storytelling in bed, "nippers" off the bat in the backyard and an Arizona snowman for Christmas, that is all just a mist (James 4:14).
And I am reminded of the lines of the famous poem by C.T. Studd:
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Another piece of my experiences slipped away this week with the passing of my lone remaining grandparent.
The generational clock has struck midnight and the roles officially changed for the next psuedo-24 hours, if you will. My parents are my grandparents, I am my parents and my daughter is me.
Day-to-day, does much change? No, not when you were already a thousand miles away. But it's still a reminder that time doesn't stand still. The temporary clock is ticking, but there is an eternal clock, too.
So while I'm left with memories of storytelling in bed, "nippers" off the bat in the backyard and an Arizona snowman for Christmas, that is all just a mist (James 4:14).
And I am reminded of the lines of the famous poem by C.T. Studd:
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Little Boy Lost
The following is a true story in poetic form.
I found a boy in the street today.
Who he was or where he was from, he could not say.
His shoes were muddy and pants were wet,
No more than 3 years old, just he and his trusty pet.
It was not safe, but he knew no better.
Not a care in the world, he was light as a feather.
I picked him up, at first he resisted.
But sitting in the backseat, he finally desisted.
His toy car in one hand, mine in the other.
He chitted and chatted as we looked for father or mother.
At last a neighbor came riding to the rescue,
The boy returned home safe and sound, it is true.
As I left the relief came with a friend in tow,
A sort of grim disappointment, just a feeling, I know.
But it seems likely this won't be his last taste of trouble,
Will he escape next time, or will disaster burst his bubble?
And it hit me as I thought about this, is this not what God feels for us?
He sees us meandering aimlessly among life's temptation and sin's pitfalls, often oblivious to the danger. And he tries to guide us safely back home, but he knows that soon enough we will again be flirting with danger, playing 'Frogger' with sin's onrushing headlights and slowly walk further and further from safety.
Not that this is new to God. Adam had but one pitfall to avoid in the Garden, and he couldn't do it, so how much more surprising is it that we can sit in church, sing the songs, read the scripture and still stray?
We are all a little boy lost, and we all need a Savior.
Isaiah 53:6 says: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way ..."
But it goes on to add this: "and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
That's Jesus, our shepherd, the finder of the lost.
I found a boy in the street today.
Who he was or where he was from, he could not say.
His shoes were muddy and pants were wet,
No more than 3 years old, just he and his trusty pet.
It was not safe, but he knew no better.
Not a care in the world, he was light as a feather.
I picked him up, at first he resisted.
But sitting in the backseat, he finally desisted.
His toy car in one hand, mine in the other.
He chitted and chatted as we looked for father or mother.
At last a neighbor came riding to the rescue,
The boy returned home safe and sound, it is true.
As I left the relief came with a friend in tow,
A sort of grim disappointment, just a feeling, I know.
But it seems likely this won't be his last taste of trouble,
Will he escape next time, or will disaster burst his bubble?
And it hit me as I thought about this, is this not what God feels for us?
He sees us meandering aimlessly among life's temptation and sin's pitfalls, often oblivious to the danger. And he tries to guide us safely back home, but he knows that soon enough we will again be flirting with danger, playing 'Frogger' with sin's onrushing headlights and slowly walk further and further from safety.
Not that this is new to God. Adam had but one pitfall to avoid in the Garden, and he couldn't do it, so how much more surprising is it that we can sit in church, sing the songs, read the scripture and still stray?
We are all a little boy lost, and we all need a Savior.
Isaiah 53:6 says: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way ..."
But it goes on to add this: "and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
That's Jesus, our shepherd, the finder of the lost.
Monday, May 23, 2011
That's not Jesus
Well, the weekend has come and gone, and we're all still here. Another attempt by man to know the mind of God has failed as the predicted rapture/end of the world did not arrive at 6 p.m. on May 21.
Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? Yes and no.
Mainly I'm disappointed because all those skeptics have added another big log to their fire of doubt. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I find the rapture jokes not so funny. I guess that's because even though I don't believe Harold Camping, I do believe Jesus Christ, and He says one of these days it's going to happen.
But most of all, I find myself thinking of a Wayne Watson song called 'That's Not Jesus' off 'The Fine Line' album. The chorus goes:
"That's not Jesus, He doesn't carry on that way.
Just some flesh and blood like you and me, Somehow gone astray
That's not Jesus, no, No matter what they say
He doesn't need me to defend Him, He just wants me to obey."
And that's the problem, that when the world looks at ol' Mr. Camping, they just put the Jesus label on him with an asterisk that says: MAY BE CRAZY.
But that's not what Jesus looks like, and not the way he's going to be introduced when he comes either. In Matthew 24:23-24, Jesus warned his disciples to be wary:
"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive ..."
Later in the same chapter, Jesus tells us what we should be doing when he comes, and it doesn't say anything about buying billboards or trying to scare people into heaven. Jesus say simply:
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns."
After 2,000 years and nearly as many wrong guesses as to the Lord's return, maybe we should all stick to following Jesus instead of predicting him. As the song says, he just wants us to obey.
Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? Yes and no.
Mainly I'm disappointed because all those skeptics have added another big log to their fire of doubt. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I find the rapture jokes not so funny. I guess that's because even though I don't believe Harold Camping, I do believe Jesus Christ, and He says one of these days it's going to happen.
But most of all, I find myself thinking of a Wayne Watson song called 'That's Not Jesus' off 'The Fine Line' album. The chorus goes:
"That's not Jesus, He doesn't carry on that way.
Just some flesh and blood like you and me, Somehow gone astray
That's not Jesus, no, No matter what they say
He doesn't need me to defend Him, He just wants me to obey."
And that's the problem, that when the world looks at ol' Mr. Camping, they just put the Jesus label on him with an asterisk that says: MAY BE CRAZY.
But that's not what Jesus looks like, and not the way he's going to be introduced when he comes either. In Matthew 24:23-24, Jesus warned his disciples to be wary:
"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive ..."
Later in the same chapter, Jesus tells us what we should be doing when he comes, and it doesn't say anything about buying billboards or trying to scare people into heaven. Jesus say simply:
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns."
After 2,000 years and nearly as many wrong guesses as to the Lord's return, maybe we should all stick to following Jesus instead of predicting him. As the song says, he just wants us to obey.
Monday, May 9, 2011
A Living Prayer
Ran across this video of Alison Krauss and Union Station playing Jay Leno a couple of years ago. The song is fantastic, as is the response of the audience, who were no doubt being shown the applause sign, but still ... Anyway, enjoy.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Staying the course
"When in the course of human events ..."
So begins the infamous Declaration of Independence, that revered document emblematic of American freedom and the signing of which forms the basis for our annual Fourth of July celebrations.
But did you know that eight delegates of the Continental Congress never signed the Declaration? Three were away with other duties at the time and never did sign, two voted against the document and were replaced, one voted for it but was replaced before he could sign, one resigned rather than sign it and one refused to sign, calling the Declaration premature, but remained in Congress.
Over the next seven years of the Revolutionary War, you can bet the wisdom of that document and those signers was questioned more than once, but in the end the mission was accomplished.
More recently, on May 1 it was announced that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden had been shot and killed, just four months shy of 10 years after the plot he masterminded resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the intervening years, there was a fair amount of grumbling and disagreement of the pursuit of bin Laden. On May 1, there were flags waving and people chanting. Another mission accomplished.
The Bible tells similar tales, most notably the people of Israel, who followed Moses out of Egypt to freedom, then spent the next 40 years grumbling, stumbling and bumbling their way through the wilderness before finally reaching the Promised Land.
It's a good reminder for us as Christians as well. Christ died some 2,000 years ago, and since then has come a fair amount of arguing, debating and worse as the days pass without his return. But he's already told us it's going to happen, so we must stay the course, do the work, fight the good fight until he comes, until one more mission is accomplished.
So begins the infamous Declaration of Independence, that revered document emblematic of American freedom and the signing of which forms the basis for our annual Fourth of July celebrations.
But did you know that eight delegates of the Continental Congress never signed the Declaration? Three were away with other duties at the time and never did sign, two voted against the document and were replaced, one voted for it but was replaced before he could sign, one resigned rather than sign it and one refused to sign, calling the Declaration premature, but remained in Congress.
Over the next seven years of the Revolutionary War, you can bet the wisdom of that document and those signers was questioned more than once, but in the end the mission was accomplished.
More recently, on May 1 it was announced that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden had been shot and killed, just four months shy of 10 years after the plot he masterminded resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the intervening years, there was a fair amount of grumbling and disagreement of the pursuit of bin Laden. On May 1, there were flags waving and people chanting. Another mission accomplished.
The Bible tells similar tales, most notably the people of Israel, who followed Moses out of Egypt to freedom, then spent the next 40 years grumbling, stumbling and bumbling their way through the wilderness before finally reaching the Promised Land.
It's a good reminder for us as Christians as well. Christ died some 2,000 years ago, and since then has come a fair amount of arguing, debating and worse as the days pass without his return. But he's already told us it's going to happen, so we must stay the course, do the work, fight the good fight until he comes, until one more mission is accomplished.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Do cats have armpits? ... and other mysteries
One of the most beautiful things about kids is the questions they ask, unless you're the one that has to answer the question.
About a month ago or so, my daughter was petting our cat, who was enjoying a nice nap at the end of the bed and welcomed another reason to purr. But suddenly out of the blue, she blurted, "Do cats have armpits?"
My wife and I just looked at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter. Put that on the list of things to ask about in heaven.
A few weeks earlier, this same inquisitive little girl had a different question. She asked her mother first, then me. "When's God's birthday?" she inquired.
"Christmas," was my nearly automatic answer and no sooner than I spoke, I realized my error. So did the 6-year-old.
"No, that's Jesus' birthday," she corrected. "When is God's birthday?"
Oh, dear. There's no theology textbook for stuff like that.
I paused a moment, then plunged ahead with a response.
"God doesn't have a birthday," I said. "God has always been and always will be. He lives forever and never changes. That's why we know he's always with us."
Was this enough to satisfy a child's insatiable curiosity? As it turns out, yes.
With a simple, "Oh, okay," the conversation was over. She may or may not remember it, but I will. You never know when or where you'll learn about God, but whether you're 6 or 96, his mysteries never cease.
Now if I can just figure out whether the cat needs to wear deodorant!
About a month ago or so, my daughter was petting our cat, who was enjoying a nice nap at the end of the bed and welcomed another reason to purr. But suddenly out of the blue, she blurted, "Do cats have armpits?"
My wife and I just looked at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter. Put that on the list of things to ask about in heaven.
A few weeks earlier, this same inquisitive little girl had a different question. She asked her mother first, then me. "When's God's birthday?" she inquired.
"Christmas," was my nearly automatic answer and no sooner than I spoke, I realized my error. So did the 6-year-old.
"No, that's Jesus' birthday," she corrected. "When is God's birthday?"
Oh, dear. There's no theology textbook for stuff like that.
I paused a moment, then plunged ahead with a response.
"God doesn't have a birthday," I said. "God has always been and always will be. He lives forever and never changes. That's why we know he's always with us."
Was this enough to satisfy a child's insatiable curiosity? As it turns out, yes.
With a simple, "Oh, okay," the conversation was over. She may or may not remember it, but I will. You never know when or where you'll learn about God, but whether you're 6 or 96, his mysteries never cease.
Now if I can just figure out whether the cat needs to wear deodorant!
The Killing
It's been a while but here I am again. And as has been customary on this blog, I begin with a reference to a TV show.
One of my recent favorites is AMC's new show -- The Killing.
And I warn you now, it's not for the faint of heart. The root of the show is the mysterious death of a teenage girl, but the title alone should tell you a bit of how the subject matter is treated. It's not just a homicide, crime scene investigation or whatever, it's a killing.
The girl's death is not simply a basis for building a whodunnit, but it's portrayed as a painful, haunting thing, particularly for her family.
That's what draws me, I suppose, the pain and grief is so real, you truly feel for the characters.
The same is true this Easter weekend of Jesus' death on the cross. Sometimes we make it so sterile, so tame, so laissez-faire. But it was real, it was painful and it was for you, it was for me.
One song that really captures this for me is a song that is 20 years old now from a group called The Violet Burning. Also called The Killing, this song really helps make Christ's crucifixion personal. And the video below uses clips from Mel Gibson's Passion to back up the lyrics.
One of my recent favorites is AMC's new show -- The Killing.
And I warn you now, it's not for the faint of heart. The root of the show is the mysterious death of a teenage girl, but the title alone should tell you a bit of how the subject matter is treated. It's not just a homicide, crime scene investigation or whatever, it's a killing.
The girl's death is not simply a basis for building a whodunnit, but it's portrayed as a painful, haunting thing, particularly for her family.
That's what draws me, I suppose, the pain and grief is so real, you truly feel for the characters.
The same is true this Easter weekend of Jesus' death on the cross. Sometimes we make it so sterile, so tame, so laissez-faire. But it was real, it was painful and it was for you, it was for me.
One song that really captures this for me is a song that is 20 years old now from a group called The Violet Burning. Also called The Killing, this song really helps make Christ's crucifixion personal. And the video below uses clips from Mel Gibson's Passion to back up the lyrics.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Returning Christmas
Christmas was two weeks ago now. By this point, you've likely spent some time in line for the refund desk somewhere, exchanging or returning a gift for yourself or someone else.
Maybe the situation is not so different spiritually. All that peace, goodwill, joy and sharing/caring spirit you had just a few weeks ago is gone. Perhaps the warm, fuzzy feelings about the true meaning of Christmas have been exchanged for questions about the true meaning of life.
The Christmas story in the Bible mirrors that experience. We like to talk about stables and shepherds and wise men, about angels and gold, frankincense and myrhh, but what about what came after? What about vengeful Herod and his killing spree of the young boys in Matthew 2? What about Joseph and Mary and Jesus fleeing to Egypt at the angel's warning?
Things didn't stay warm and fuzzy for them, and they won't for us either. But if there's one piece of advice or example we should follow, look no further than Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Christmas is something to be treasured in our hearts and its miracles and blessings to be pondered -- not taken lightly or momentarily enjoyed -- treasured.
Then when the doubts come and times don't seem so warm or inviting, we have an anchor to fall back on. Call it the assurance of Christmas, and that's non-refundable.
Maybe the situation is not so different spiritually. All that peace, goodwill, joy and sharing/caring spirit you had just a few weeks ago is gone. Perhaps the warm, fuzzy feelings about the true meaning of Christmas have been exchanged for questions about the true meaning of life.
The Christmas story in the Bible mirrors that experience. We like to talk about stables and shepherds and wise men, about angels and gold, frankincense and myrhh, but what about what came after? What about vengeful Herod and his killing spree of the young boys in Matthew 2? What about Joseph and Mary and Jesus fleeing to Egypt at the angel's warning?
Things didn't stay warm and fuzzy for them, and they won't for us either. But if there's one piece of advice or example we should follow, look no further than Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Christmas is something to be treasured in our hearts and its miracles and blessings to be pondered -- not taken lightly or momentarily enjoyed -- treasured.
Then when the doubts come and times don't seem so warm or inviting, we have an anchor to fall back on. Call it the assurance of Christmas, and that's non-refundable.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Not Who I Was
I find Brandon Heath's song, "I'm Not Who I Was" (see above) undeniably appropriate as we start a new year.
We all undergo changes in life, sometimes the changes are physical, sometimes mental or even spiritual, but rarely are we the same person from day to day, let alone year to year.
So the question for the new year is this: How will you let life's changes impact you?
They can make you stronger or they can make you weaker. They can make you more positive or more negative. You can be more faithful or more hopeless.
Either way, you're not who you were.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sleigh Ride
Just made it safely back home with four hours to spare this snowy Christmas Eve -- emphasis on just.
For a few, terrible seconds along the way, this Christmas Eve might have ended in spectacularly, unspectacular fashion. It's never good to crest a hill and find two trucks pulled to the side of the road with a car perpendicular to said road in between. And it's even less good to tap the brakes and feel the vehicle you're driving start to wiggle, then try it again only to feel a waggle -- even at 30 miles per hour.
So I aimed for the opening at the double yellow lines as traffic passed in the opposite lane, knowing there were three possible outcomes and two of them we will not mention out loud. But with my wife in the passenger seat lofting quick, audible prayers, our sleigh somehow slid through trouble and safely back onto the darkness of a road illuminated by only the driving snowflakes.
Call it one final reminder to be thankful for Christ, thankful for salvation and thankful for Christmas miracles.
For a few, terrible seconds along the way, this Christmas Eve might have ended in spectacularly, unspectacular fashion. It's never good to crest a hill and find two trucks pulled to the side of the road with a car perpendicular to said road in between. And it's even less good to tap the brakes and feel the vehicle you're driving start to wiggle, then try it again only to feel a waggle -- even at 30 miles per hour.
So I aimed for the opening at the double yellow lines as traffic passed in the opposite lane, knowing there were three possible outcomes and two of them we will not mention out loud. But with my wife in the passenger seat lofting quick, audible prayers, our sleigh somehow slid through trouble and safely back onto the darkness of a road illuminated by only the driving snowflakes.
Call it one final reminder to be thankful for Christ, thankful for salvation and thankful for Christmas miracles.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Long expected
For me, one of the blessings, and curses, of the so-called "liberal arts" education was the Art and Music Appreciation class.
Those that know me would never dare say that art or music are one of my strong points. And those that don't know me would take only five minutes to figure it out.
But as one of the requisites for that course, I had to learn to play the piano. And I use that term, play, loosely here, because 15 years later, I could no more play a piano than I could tuna fish (little joke, there ... very little).
Anyhow, it became my quest to figure out a way to plunk out the song, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," in a way that one might almost consider to be music. And though remembering the how has become problematic, I shall never forget the whens or wheres. Dark rooms, usually after dark, were where I practiced interminably to perform that song well enough to pass the class.
And the words of Charles Wesley's Christmas-oriented hymn have never departed either. We sang it at church this past Sunday, and I was reminded once again how perfect for Christmas this song is. Here are the lyrics in case you have not had them drummed into your brain in the pew of a church, or, as in my case, the pew of a piano:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
How apt that we feel the way we do about Christmas. Nearly from the moment one Christmas ends, we anticipate the moment that another will begin.
We know it's coming, but it takes so long to arrive. We even try to fool ourselves with Christmas in July, but it's not the same. It doesn't have the same spirit, the same consolation.
But when it finally does arrive, we feel that hope, desire and joy well up in us all at once. We want to share it, shout it, live it forever ... and we shall. But not because of anything we have felt or done or said. Only by His merit, His grace, His freedom ... Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.
Those that know me would never dare say that art or music are one of my strong points. And those that don't know me would take only five minutes to figure it out.
But as one of the requisites for that course, I had to learn to play the piano. And I use that term, play, loosely here, because 15 years later, I could no more play a piano than I could tuna fish (little joke, there ... very little).
Anyhow, it became my quest to figure out a way to plunk out the song, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," in a way that one might almost consider to be music. And though remembering the how has become problematic, I shall never forget the whens or wheres. Dark rooms, usually after dark, were where I practiced interminably to perform that song well enough to pass the class.
And the words of Charles Wesley's Christmas-oriented hymn have never departed either. We sang it at church this past Sunday, and I was reminded once again how perfect for Christmas this song is. Here are the lyrics in case you have not had them drummed into your brain in the pew of a church, or, as in my case, the pew of a piano:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
How apt that we feel the way we do about Christmas. Nearly from the moment one Christmas ends, we anticipate the moment that another will begin.
We know it's coming, but it takes so long to arrive. We even try to fool ourselves with Christmas in July, but it's not the same. It doesn't have the same spirit, the same consolation.
But when it finally does arrive, we feel that hope, desire and joy well up in us all at once. We want to share it, shout it, live it forever ... and we shall. But not because of anything we have felt or done or said. Only by His merit, His grace, His freedom ... Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.
The Last Christmas
Typically, talk around this time of year centers around the arrival of Jesus heralding the first Christmas. But I just wanted to share this moving song by Sixpence None the Richer that takes a different tact -- the last christmas without Jesus.
And listen for my favorite lyrics of all late in the song:
I feel your heart beating inside my own skin
And I think of Mary in Bethlehem
When darkness was shattered, the dawn of god's grace
And the journey began to the first easter day
On this last christmas the last christmas
The last christmas the very last christmas
The last christmas the last christmas
The last christmas without you
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas Amusings
So less than a week before Christmas, and I find myself thinking of the last few such holidays.
A couple of years ago that I woke up on Christmas morning, but instead of unwrapping gifts, I unwrapped my intestines. That is, I got down on my knees and bowed before the porcelain god and puked, yakked or whatever your favorite term may be right in the toilet. (Don't worry, this isn't a lesson in not worshipping false gods, because the porcelain god is not worth the effort, trust me.)
In some ways I was like Ebenezer Scrooge, visited by the ghosts of Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner past. And when I was through, I was changed because if any man ever wanted to keep his Christmas ham well, it was me.
Well, by the time the next Christmas rolled around, I no longer gave that dreadful experience much thought. But my daughter did. She mentioned it on Christmas Eve, concerned that Daddy not be sick this Christmas. I assured her I would not be (then thought carefully before I ate anything else, lest I be made a liar) and the holiday proceeded as it should have.
But the point was well-made. For all the hoopla and the hype that surrounds Christmas, it's easy to take the entire celebration for granted. As a matter of fact, we may sometimes make ourselves sick on all the sweets that accompany the season both literally and figuratively -- i.e.: shopping, Santa, pageants and presents.
But what we really need to do is appreciate the gift of it simply being Christmas -- the chance to celebrate Jesus' birthday, to celebrate his gift to us and to reciprocate by giving Him the gift of our lives. No tree necessary, no lights required, just us and God.
Because there's nothing greater than his presence being in us -- even if our last meal is not!
A couple of years ago that I woke up on Christmas morning, but instead of unwrapping gifts, I unwrapped my intestines. That is, I got down on my knees and bowed before the porcelain god and puked, yakked or whatever your favorite term may be right in the toilet. (Don't worry, this isn't a lesson in not worshipping false gods, because the porcelain god is not worth the effort, trust me.)
In some ways I was like Ebenezer Scrooge, visited by the ghosts of Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner past. And when I was through, I was changed because if any man ever wanted to keep his Christmas ham well, it was me.
Well, by the time the next Christmas rolled around, I no longer gave that dreadful experience much thought. But my daughter did. She mentioned it on Christmas Eve, concerned that Daddy not be sick this Christmas. I assured her I would not be (then thought carefully before I ate anything else, lest I be made a liar) and the holiday proceeded as it should have.
But the point was well-made. For all the hoopla and the hype that surrounds Christmas, it's easy to take the entire celebration for granted. As a matter of fact, we may sometimes make ourselves sick on all the sweets that accompany the season both literally and figuratively -- i.e.: shopping, Santa, pageants and presents.
But what we really need to do is appreciate the gift of it simply being Christmas -- the chance to celebrate Jesus' birthday, to celebrate his gift to us and to reciprocate by giving Him the gift of our lives. No tree necessary, no lights required, just us and God.
Because there's nothing greater than his presence being in us -- even if our last meal is not!
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Social Network
In this age of new technology and information overload, it sometimes seems like the Gospel story is stuck in a time capsule. ... If you want your dose of old-time religion, go dig it up from under that tree out back.
But that's not how Jesus shared the most important message in the Universe, and it shouldn't be how we do things either. Jesus showed up where the people were from that first miracle at the wedding in Cana to the woman at the well to the triumphal entry. And he presented his message with a twist, so much so that the church elders of the day (i.e. - Pharisees and Sadducees) wanted to choke the life out of him ... literally. He taught the Scriptures, but in a personal way. He presented salvation, often with a parable or allegory.
Well, in their own way, that's what the folks in charge of The Natwivity are doing. They are using the social network of Twitter to re-tell the Christmas Story. Not the one with the Red Ryder BB gun and the kid with his tongue stuck to the flag pole, but the original Christmas Story of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men, and don't forget ol' Herod.
Even if you're not a Twitterer, just visit this link to ready what is being done. The most recent tweets are at the top, so scroll all the way down the page if you want to start at the beginning.
The story is being told from the viewpoint of the various characters, tweet by tweet. It's creative, it's fresh and it's a tale 2,000 years old that doesn't sound like it. Who says evangelism has to be boring?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A Song for Christmas
One of my guilty pleasures in the month of December is hauling out those Christmas CDs, or downloads, and enjoying some cheesy, schmaltzy and moving tunes.
The song for which I posted the video below -- Hero, by Abandon -- doesn't quite fit the classic Christmas song mode. Well, as you will see, it seems a bit more Easter. But when I listen, I hear Christmas.
I hear the Christmas spirit in Jesus' every move. We needed a hero, a Savior, and he's the only one that fit the bill. Giving of oneself is Christmas in a nutshell.
The song for which I posted the video below -- Hero, by Abandon -- doesn't quite fit the classic Christmas song mode. Well, as you will see, it seems a bit more Easter. But when I listen, I hear Christmas.
I hear the Christmas spirit in Jesus' every move. We needed a hero, a Savior, and he's the only one that fit the bill. Giving of oneself is Christmas in a nutshell.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Back to the Rock
After the last week, I know I could use something more fun, and I'll assume that's true of you the faithful reader as well.
So I embedded this YouTube video of the classic Christian rock band Petra, performing on the Beat the System tour, which would eventually become the Captured in Time and Space video/live album. This was before CDs and DVDs you know?
Watching lead singer Greg X. Volz reminded me of the time, a few years after this, while he was touring solo, that he was the feature act at youth camp. One year at youth camp, we got this fresh new act with their first album out called DC Talk. Another year, it was the legendary Volz doing the solo struggle.
Well, Volz was good, as you might expect, though nobody was dancing like they were with DC Talk -- 'round, round, spinning round, round.'
But I have always remembered less about his music and more about him playing frisbee football with us ... He might have had a second career there!
Anyway, in case you haven't heard, Greg X. Volz, Bob Hartman, Louie Weaver, Mark Kelly and John Lawry have reunited, are releasing a CD, going on tour and doing a live TBN show on Nov. 20.
The disc -- Back to the Rock -- are newly recorded versions of classic Petra songs with two new ones mixed in. The track listing is as follows: Adonai, Angel of Light, Back To The Rock, Bema Seat, Clean, Godpleaser, Grave Robber, Let Everything That Hath Breath (PraiseThe Lord), More Power To Ya, Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows, Too Big To Fail, Second Wind. So enjoy the nostalgia.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Freak out
Remember when you were a kid, and you tried to wrap your mind around the idea of forever? Come on, admit it, I know I wasn't the only one who found trying to grasp that idea simply ended up making you freak out.
It wasn't that there was anything all that horrible about forever. Most of the time, it was on the heels of a church discussion about living forever in heaven. Sounds good, but when you can't grasp something, that means you're not in control, hence the freak out.
A lot of years have passed, and you and I both probably found ourselves with little time to contemplate such mysterious ideas as forever. But that doesn't mean the things we do contemplate don't bring about the inevitable feelings that we're not in control.
The outgoing bills are more than the income ... freak out.
The tasks at work take more time than the 40 hours you are allotted ... freak out.
Seeking health care requires choosing an option with no guarantees of success ... freak out.
That's where I find myself this week, and not for the first time. I'm sure you can relate. But the one command I just can't find in the Bible is: Thou shalt freak out.
No, it's the complete opposite. The exact phrase "do not be afraid" appears approximately 70 times in the Bible, so I wouldn't call that a license to freak out.
Instead, Proverbs 3:5 offers a simple concise alternative: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
And Matthew 6:33-34: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Ahhh, guess that means trying to figure out forever will have to wait until eternity.
It wasn't that there was anything all that horrible about forever. Most of the time, it was on the heels of a church discussion about living forever in heaven. Sounds good, but when you can't grasp something, that means you're not in control, hence the freak out.
A lot of years have passed, and you and I both probably found ourselves with little time to contemplate such mysterious ideas as forever. But that doesn't mean the things we do contemplate don't bring about the inevitable feelings that we're not in control.
The outgoing bills are more than the income ... freak out.
The tasks at work take more time than the 40 hours you are allotted ... freak out.
Seeking health care requires choosing an option with no guarantees of success ... freak out.
That's where I find myself this week, and not for the first time. I'm sure you can relate. But the one command I just can't find in the Bible is: Thou shalt freak out.
No, it's the complete opposite. The exact phrase "do not be afraid" appears approximately 70 times in the Bible, so I wouldn't call that a license to freak out.
Instead, Proverbs 3:5 offers a simple concise alternative: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
And Matthew 6:33-34: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Ahhh, guess that means trying to figure out forever will have to wait until eternity.
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