I have always been one who has identified with music…Since I can remember, I’ve enjoyed all kinds of music…I remember as a young teenager listening to both Billy Idol and Wayne Watson (not at the same time of course). I also believe that most people probably feel the same way or can identify with my appreciation of music.

For me…Music provides an outlet in which I can vicariously express my feelings and emotions, whether they are exuberant or melancholily. Having said that, I have recently found a Christian singer/songwriter whose lyrics, often verbatim, express what I have recently experienced, or which I currently experience. His name is Brandon Heath.

The first time I heard his song “Give Me Your Eyes,” it resonated with a chord, deep within my spirit. I quickly downloaded the song to my i-Pod. I have taken the lyrics, and often expressed them as a prayer. 

I recently took an honest inventory of my daily walk with Christ, and the reality of my spiritual journey aligned with the lyrics to this song…. By taking an honest inventory of my spiritual life, I sadly realized that I often fail to see people through Jesus’ eyes. I fail to treat them with compassion (See Matthew 9:36).

This song, coupled with Scripture, has helped me seek to live a more obedient life for Christ and to see all people as Christ does.

The lyrics to: “Give Me Your Eyes” are below:

Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight

Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what’s underneath

There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work, He’s buying time         

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared

I’ve been here a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
I need a second glance
Give me a second chance
To see the way you’ve seen the people all along

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

I encourage you to be a blessing to someone today…For we are blessed to be a blessing!

Click on the last link under my blog roll titled “The Revelation Song” by “GateWay Worship” and then read Revelation Chapters 4 and 5.  Allow God to bless you as you stand in amazement of Him and worship Him and His Son, the Lamb that was slain so that you and I could have an intimate relationship with the Living God!

Among all of the goings-on in all of our lives this past week, I think we all, at least for a moment, sat quietly and remembered where we were that mid morning, Tuesday, September 11, 2001. On that bright Tuesday morning, the landscape of our world changed forever…and those events brought America to its knees. However, if you are a Christ follower, although your temporary and worldly landscape had changed, your eternal landscape is stronger than ever.

Below are the lyrics to a song by “Day of Fire” called “Cornerstone.” Read the lyrics as well as the biblical texts from Isaiah, Psalms, and Matthew below, and if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior…Give Him praise for sustaining and strengthening you, in all of life’s chaos and unrest!

All of the ground is sinking sand
A doubting maze of desert land
Where darkness rules the heart of man
Til’ the sun shines light on him

Lord of all,
Show you’re strong
All my needs they fall

Be a cornerstone
Be a cornerstone
Be a rock, higher than I
Be my fortress wall
Be a foundation for all,
My cornerstone

The building’s swaying in the wind
The towers crumble down again
This certainly will be the end
Of them not built on him

Lord of all
Show your strong
All my needs they fall

You
You are the builder of my heart
You
Held me together from the start

 Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, the “Chief Cornerstone.” He recorded the following in Isaiah 28:16: “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem. It is firm, a tested and precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never run away again.’”

Also the Psalm writer wrote the following in Psalm 118:22: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”  This is also recorded in Matthew’s Gospel in Matthew 21:42.

So, I leave you with one question to ponder….”What provides the foundation of your life, and on what or whom do you continually use  to build  your life ?”

“But now righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice… (to) those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26

Paul makes a big shift in verse 21…He shifts from the revelation of God’s wrath, which he identified in chapter one, to here in chapter three, where he focuses on God’s righteousness…and the righteousness which He provides us…. Our righteousness, as we know, is as filthy rags….So God does not transform us into a Righteous people but He declares us righteous through faith in Jesus.

There are two key actions outlined in this text that provide clarity to the righteousness bestowed to us by God. Building on verses 21-25, Paul provides further clarity in verse 26 on God the Father’s justice, through Christ’s sacrificial atonement. He does so in two specific ways.

First, He gave His Son– God takes sin so seriously, that since we are incapable of freeing ourselves, He sent His Son who knew no sin, to become sin. Then through Christ’s resurrection, God the Father Exonerated His Son and defeated death itself.

Second, through Christ’s act of freeing us from the bondage of sin, He has given us a brand new outlook on life….A new landscape, if you will…In which all things have been made new by Christ’s atonement, which provided the means to free us from sin’s indictment, and for God to declare us Just.

We can best demonstrate our gratitude to God for the righteousness which He so wonderfully bestowed upon us, through Jesus’ sacrifice, by modeling Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 5:6: “For in Christ Jesus….The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

I was recently reading one of John Piper’s books in which he conveyed the biblical truth that God does not transform people into a “Just” people, but rather, through Christ’s atonement for our sins, He “declared” Christ followers as “Just.” Much like a judge, through Christ’s substitutionary death for our sins on the cross, God declared us “just,” as we accept Christ as Lord, through faith.

The Apostle Paul clarified this powerful biblical axiom in Romans. He wrote the following: “righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24

There are 2 key words in this text in which Paul used to provide clarity.

1st) The Greek word “justified” in verse 24 actually translates as “a decision rendered by a court.” Paul painted a picture of humanity on trial, with God as Judge, and Christ as our defender. Through Christ’s defense or sacrificial atonement, we are “Declared Just.” One must also consider the fact that…God does not transform our depraved and sin-soaked hearts into hearts that are justified. If he did, then sin would have never entered the world, and we would not know sin. However, Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin, so that we could be “Declared Just” by God.

2) The original Greek word translated as “redemption” in verse 24, actually portrays the action of someone buying the freedom of a slave, or more specifically, all humanity, held bondage to sin.

Justification comes “through” Faith, and ”by” a Declaration of Justification for sinners. We are saved through faith in Christ, and by the grace of a loving God who declares us just.

I know for some of you this post may seem way over the top or self-serving at best. However, as my blog deals with matters concerning the institution of the church….I am reminded that the family was the first institution created by God…Even though that might provide some of you with only a sandy foundation for my efforts, I would be remiss as a Daddy if I didn’t ask you to vote for my precious little Allie.

So please click on the link at the bottom of my blogroll titled “Vote for my daughter Allie” …It’s not just shameless promotion, but selfless love!

Thanks and many blessings! 

As a Gen. X’er, quickly approaching 40, and having served the local church, with passion, for 16 years, I found Dr. Ed Stetzer’s research for LifeWay, in regards to the hemorrhaging of young adults leaving the church disturbing at best. I call it hemorrhaging, because many or most of the young adults leaving the church have stated explicitly, that the church has proved as a wedge driven between them and God. Also, many see no value in the local church for their walk with Christ. Many appear incredulous believing the church is more centered on growing programs and not growing people. I for one, can understand that sentiment.

After reading Stetzer’s research, there is enough blame on all sides that could easily and legitimately be distributed. As a Minister of Education, serving on the front lines and in the trenches with other believers in the local church, I want to highlight my own perspective.

Stetzer stated that inflated Student Ministries have provided nothing more than a holding tank with pizza. This statement resonated with me as a former Student Minister, as I have been that culprit more times than I’d like to admit. I also experienced some of that when I attended church while I was in High School. However, I was fortunate enough to have a strong and persistent Student Minister, who refused to give up on me. Through that relationship, and my growing relationship with Christ, God called me into full-time vocational ministry. However, God’s plan didn’t fit my plan, and after four long years of running, I finally surrendered to God’s call in my life. Through that process, and growing into young adulthood, I experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs in my walk with Christ and my involvement in His church.

Sadly, those holding tanks with pizza still dot the landscape of many ministries within the church today (they only look different from the outside). Much like my mistakes as a Student Minister, and even today, as a Minister of Education,  Student Ministries, Adult Ministries, Children’s Ministries and other church-based ministries use the attendance report as the barometer in measuring their ministry’s maturity, or lack thereof. So to keep the numbers high, church staff members often create a buzz circulating around their respective ministries. By utilizing this practice, many church staff ministers have crossed the perimeter of light, and instead of providing a conduit for the Holy Spirit to grow children, students, and adults, they often keep those involved in their ministries on a consistent diet of milk, and many never move to the meat.

In the book of Jude, Jude wrote in an implicit manner, about how God spreads His Kingdom through the church. He also warned the early believers of the false teachers that had infiltrated the church. He clearly expressed that the church must contend for the believers, led astray by false teachers, and it must also contend to maintain the integrity and truth of the Gospel.

However, Jude also exhorted the early believers with the mission of the church. In verses 20-23 He wrote: “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them” (NIV)

We have an overwhelming call, but an overcoming God, who empowers His Body, in order to spread the Gospel of Christ.

1 Kings Chapter 12 describes the details within the fray that existed between Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, and God’s chosen leader over Judah, and Jeroboam, the leader whom God chose to rule over the 10 tribes of Israel. The author of 1 Kings provides the following account: Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king.  When Jeroboam heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from  Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: ”Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you”…..Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime.

They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people….they will always be your servants”…..But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders. He told the Israelites: “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”  The Israelites rebelled against Rehoboam and killed the man in charge of forced laobr, and Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem.

Rehoboam  then mustered the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand fighting men—to make war against Jeroboam (who had returned from exile in Egypt) and the house of Israel to regain the kingdom.

Then the Lord said to Rehoboam….”Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing”…. So they obeyed the word of the LORD and went home again, as the LORD had ordered.

You may ask yourself  “what point am I trying to make?” I’m glad you asked.

General Norman Schwarzkopf said: “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”

The same goes for us….We always know the right decision, or at least we have a good understanding of the right decision to make. So I will close with these few questions: “Has there ever been a time in your life, through anger or pain, that you almost made a horrible decision?” “Did you make it?” “If so, what were the consequences?” “Or did the Holy Spirit intervene, and you listened to Him carefully, with an obedient heart, and cooled down, then did what God said?”

In Rehoboam’s case…. he just went home.

As we come to a close of the week following the most important day of the year for Christianity, I wanted to share with you a piece my friend, Matt Tullos wrote, in regards to the first and complete Resurrection Sunday….He contextualizes the Resurrection story in our modern vernacular and directly ties it to our current day culture. I hope it impacts you as much as t did me.

EMAIL FROM ANDREW
Many of you haven’t been aware of what happened this afternoon. Jesus died by crucifixion. (I know that many haven’t been aware of Jesus arrest. I apologize for not going into all the details of the past few horrific days- the worst days of our lives.) Joseph of Aramathea received a release from Pilate for the body of Jesus. He is to be buried in a new tomb tonight. Nicodemus has been a great help in preparation for the burial. There will be no formal memorial service due to the fear that we all are experiencing.

The past few days have been very difficult… difficult beyond compare. Pray for Mary, Jesus mother. She is in despair. Pray also for Peter who is experiencing a great amount of self doubt. At this point, no one knows where Peter is and we fear that he might harm himself. You may have heard rumors that Judas conspired to bring Jesus under arrest. It’s true. He committed suicide early this morning. Feel free to forward this news to any followers of Jesus and let’s stick together prayerfully and begin to try to put the pieces of our lives back together. I’m in the process of trying to get everyone together to pray and to discuss these difficult matters.
Your friend, Andrew

ANOTHER E-MAIL FORWARDED FROM ANDREW
Just wanted to update everyone, despite the fact that this is dangerous, attempting to communicate anything through the net, because the Romans, Pharisees, and others might intercept this message. (Many of your service providers are administrated by the Roman Government and the religious hierarchy.)

As mentioned in my last note, Jesus died sometime around 4pm yesterday outside the gates of Jerusalem on a hill called “the place of the skull.”

Simon Peter was located last night in Gethsemene. He was delirious and very depressed. He feels like his whole life has been a failure. Please keep him in your prayers. Mary the Mother of Jesus was ministered to by John and Mary Magdalene. Most of Jesus followers are unsure of what they will do in the future. I would imagine that if the government allows us to remain free, we’ll return to our former trades. All disciples are accounted for and we are planning to meet and pray tonight. We all have been touched greatly by Jesus and the loss is severe. Let me remind all of you, that he would not have us revolt or compromise ourselves in an emotional reaction. As a memorial to his life let us remember how he lived and died.

Andrew

PS Please feel free to forward this note to other believers

ANDREW cont’d
I planned on writing you this letter before dawn but things have beena little crazy around here. Mary went to the tomb and now she’s in some sort of hysterical bliss about having seen JJJJJJ JJJJJsefnba;urhfgqvhwv oy fdgn;i vqeoia[ tahjk gha;kjf gjkd

This is Peter. Andrew just fainted and his head fell on the keyboard because I just walked into the room with the Risen, Glorified, Conquering, Living Savior- Jesus Christ. Forward this news to
everyone!!!

HE IS ALIVE!!
Simon Peter