I hardly dare to speak of it, but this same great God, in the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, became human. Think of it! The Word, the divine Reason, took on a body and lived in our midst. We saw Him. We could touch Him. We beheld His Glory! Though we cannot know God in His Essence we can approach the Incarnate God … a Savior who let little children come to Him when the disciples would have kept them away. Rationally He should not have paid attention to our very existence except to condemn our foolish rebellion, but loving us He became one of us to save us from our evil.
In an act of unimaginable elevation, this God-Man called His disciples His friends. He is willing to be my Friend … a Friend to a sinner. I don’t deserve, cannot earn it, almost feel like rebuking God for His Divine temerity in loving me, but can only accept it.
And glory in it! Jesus Christ is willing to be my Friend.
An Israeli prisoner appears to be responsible for discovering the remnants of what may be one of the oldest Christian churches in Israel, the Middle East, and possibly the world.
Mark D. Roberts has written a prayer inspired by Psalm 103:1. I like his response; nothing I have, including my wife and son, are mine. They belong first and foremost to God. For instance, my wife and I are simply caretakers of our little boy, and for a short while. In time, he will become a man, making his own decisions (and hopefully wise ones, if we do our jobs as parents right). God has blessed our son, and will continue to bless him, in ways which have yet to be revealed. Hopefully, our son will use his blessings to bless the Lord.
Today is Resurrection Day. Today is nearly over. It’s taken me this long to come up with something to say about this day, the greatest day of the year. This is the day Christians celebrate something no other faith can claim: the resurrection of our Savior.
So I thought I would finish the day the same way I started it. One of my favorite albums is Don Francisco’s The Live Concert, which he closes with the song “He’s Alive”, sung from Peter’s perspective. This was the song that was running through my head as I showered this morning, getting ready for church. You can download a MP3 to listen along.
He’s Alive
The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin’ through
To drag us all away
And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers’ feet
But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told us where she’d been
She said they’ve moved Him in the night
None of us knows where
The stone’s been rolled away
And now His body isn’t there
We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and the empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
How or where they’d taken Him
Was more than I could tell
Something strange had happened there
But just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn’t lift me very high
‘Cause I’d seen them crucify Him
Then I saw Him die
Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I’d promised Him
Just added to my shame
‘Cause when at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn’t be the same
Suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove shadows from the room
Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide
I fell down on my knees
And just clung to Him and cried
He raised me to my feet
As I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace
He’s alive! He’s alive!
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive! He’s alive!
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive! He’s alive!
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive! He’s alive!
He’s alive!
Today we celebrated Resurrection Day, more commonly known as Easter. The difference is that every day is Easter. Every day is Resurrection Day, because our God is alive.
“He’s Alive” Copyright © 1977 Don Francisco / Rocky Mountain Ministries
I love Todd Agnew’s take on “Amazing Grace”. (The iTunes Music Store sample doesn’t do it justice.)
Grace Like Rain
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see so clearly
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away
They’re washed away
written by Chris Collins and Todd Agnew. © 2003 Ardent/Koala Music (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Based on the song “Amazing Grace”. Lyrics by John Newton. Music by Edwin O. Excelle (Public Domain).
So three months ago, I sent an e-mail to our pastor, inquiring if the church was looking in to offering his sermons in MP3 format, rather than the Real and WMP formats found on the church’s site. Tim, not being, in his words, a “tech guy”, informed me that a couple of the more technologically-inclined associate pastors, along with some volunteers, were looking in to it. I was taking a class under Dave, one of the aforementioned associate pastors, and he told me they were working on getting the sermons encoded, and even looking at signing up in the podcast section of the iTunes Music Store.
Two days ago, I thought to go take a look at the downloads page, and the podcast is now available. You can also subscribe from the iTMS, if you prefer.
The current line-up includes the full Galatians series we closed out the year with, and I highly recommend it. The Quest for Reality series is what we’re working through now, and are only two weeks in. Download and give a listen; I really think you’ll enjoy Tim’s teaching.
We sang one of my favorite songs today during worship. I first heard “Be Unto Your Name” on the Revival in Belfast CD, by worship leader Robin Mark. I think this CD is a favorite of our worship leader’s as well. I can usually tell when we’re going to sing something from it, from the instrumentation on stage.
[Two of the above links require iTunes.]