Lesson of the Year - Songs of the Day

Rebecca and I seem to always get a theme for the year from God. Sometimes we have the same theme. Sometimes it's different. Yesterday we were talking about what we felt God teaching us this year.

I think the part of God's story that hit me most this year was the promise of the new creation. I have been struck by the hope of God's plan for redeeming his creation. We have been going through Revelation at church. The sermon series is called 'Unveiled Hope.' We are learning that in the midst of all the sufferings, wars, and strie, all shall be well.

Almost every cd I have bought this year has had something about the coming day when every wrong shall be made right.

I have witnessed the faith of friends and friends of friends who have stared death, hopelessness, and disease in the face with a defiant faith that boldly claims Christ will win and his enemies will not.

One of my favorite gifts this year was ITunes money (thanks, Sweetheart). I bought Andrew Peterson's album, Carried Along.

I heard this song yesterday for the first time. Just another reminder that Jesus is coming again. He is coming to restore everything he bought back with his blood on the hill. Until then we'll be in the fight. Our lives will be full of joys and sorrows, highs and lows, obedience and disobedience. But, when we see him we will be like him and then our deepest sorrows will become our greatest joys. So, come Lord Jesus.

Amen, Come Lord Jesus by Andrew Peterson

Tonight in the line of the merchandise store
While they were packing up my bags
I saw the pictures of the prophets of the picket signs
Screaming, "God hates fags"

And it feels like the church isn't anything more
Then the second coming of the Pharisees
Scrubbing each other 'til their tombs are white
They chisel epitaphs of piety

Oh, there's a burning down inside of me
'Cause the battle seems so lost
And it's raging on so silently
We forget it's being fought

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Amen

It's taken me years in the race just to get this far
Still there is no end in sight,
There's no end in sight
'Cause I've carried my cross into dens of the wicked
And you know I blended in just fine

Well, I'm weak and I'm weary of breaking His heart
With they cycle of my sin, of my sin
Still He turns His face to me and I kiss it
Just to betray Him once again

Well, I've got oceans down inside of me
I can feel the billows roll
With the mercy that comes thundering
O'er the waters of my soul

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen

Tonight in the light of the gathering rain
I could hear creation groan
And a sigh rose up from the streets of the city
To the foot of Heaven's throne

Oh, and the people hear the sound of a sweet refrain
An absolution in the fray, in the fry
It tells of the death of the one for the lives of the many
More than any picket sign could say

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen

I hope this isn't overkill. I realize reading songs and listening to them are very different (so maybe you just need to buy Andrew Peterson's albums). I had to put this last song in.

After the Last Tear Falls by Andrew Peterson and Andrew Osenga

After the last tear falls
After the last secret's told
After the last bullet tears through flesh and bone
After the last child starves
And the last girl walks the boulevard
After the last year that's just too hard

There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love

After the last disgrace
After the last lie to save some face
After the last brutal jab from a poison tongue
After the last dirty politician
After the last meal down at the mission
After the last lonely night in prison

There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love

And in the end, the end is
Oceans and oceans
Of love and love again
We'll see how the tears that have fallen
Were caught in the palms
Of the Giver of love and the Lover of all
And we'll look back on these tears as old tales

'Cause after the last plan fails
After the last siren wails
After the last young husband sails off to join the war
After the last "this marriage is over"
After the last young girl's innocence is stolen
After the last years of silence that won't let a heart open

There is love
Love, love, love
There is love

And in the end, the end is
Oceans and oceans
Of love and love again
We'll see how the tears that have fallen
Were caught in the palms
Of the Giver of love and the Lover of all
And we'll look back on these tears as old tales

Merry Christmas - Joy to the Broken World

We sang these songs in church yesterday. The sermon was about the promise and hope of the incarnation. These songs are full of biblical truth. God's creation was good and perfect. It fell, and suffering has abounded since. By coming to earth, living the life all men should live, dying the death all men should die, and raising from the grave, Christ bought back his fallen creation. Now, we wait in eager expectation for God to show his glory again in his creation.

As I sang 'Joy to the World' I saw a dad holding his little boy. His little boy is four and has a brain tumor that will probably take his life on earth. Watching the father hold his son and singing, "No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found," was a deeply moving experience.

Life is hard. Thorns grow. Children get sick and die. But, God became a man.

Jesus came and saved the world by suffering. So, in the face of the suffering,God's people can shout, "Joy to the World!"

The Savior came and he is coming again. Everything is not right, but it will be. The king is coming back. It reminds me of the C.S. Lewis classic line from 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, "They say Aslan is on the move." One day, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, every sickness will be healed, every sadness will be become untrue.


Joy to the World by Isaac Watts

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.


Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.


No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.


He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.



I Heard the Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Grace - Free not Cheap

So, yesterday's post caused some controversy. Lots of emails and some comments. I disagree with those who think I'm cheapening the virgin birth to recognize the similarities between how Jamie Lynn Spears and Mary would have been treated. I understand how someone could be offended. I really do. Maybe I should have left the comparison I was trying to make to a more skilled writer.

Ultimately, here is where I land. I left some ambiguity in the post. It wasn't unintentional. When Jesus said the one without sin should cast the first stone, he left some gray area. When he let the sinful woman wash his feet with her tears, he left some gray area. Jesus never condones sin. Never. He forgives sin. And the reason he can forgive is because he paid the debt. The adulterous woman, like the harlot, and myself, will not be stoned because the Savior was crushed in our place. But Jesus didn't explain all of that in John 8 or Luke 7. He let them think he didn't take the law seriously. The cross shows us all how seriously he takes sin.

Grace is free. It is not cheap.

Jamie Lynn Spears, the Christmas Story, and My Pharisee Heart

While driving home from work I heard the news about Britney Spears' sixteen year-old sister being pregnant. I was listening to a sports radio show and the host was having a pretty good time making jokes. I called two of my friends who I know like the show and told them to listen. I was laughing pretty hard. I got home and told Rebecca a few of the jokes that involved Nickelodeon shows that our boys watch. I was still laughing. Then something hit me.

An unmarried teenage girl will be the topic of conversation in most houses tonight. Her family and even the region of the country she is from will be made fun of.

The scenario isn't the one you'd think God would use to bring the Savior into the world. But he did. Two thousand years ago, a scared, unmarried teenager became pregnant. She was from a poor section of Israel and she was ridiculed and made fun of during her whole life. Even when Jesus was an adult people referred to him as the son of Mary insinuating no one really knew who his father was.

It is another reminder of the scandal of grace. In the kingdom, the healthy are out and the broken are in. He came to make all things new. He came to redeem his broken world.

When you hear about Miss Spears tonight, remember Mary. Remember grace. Remember, that the one is forgiven much, loves much.

The Holy Spirit showed me a little more of my Pharisee heart today. I'm grateful for his gentle voice. I'm grateful for the blood of the Lamb that takes away my sin.

Pictures that Didn't Make the Christmas Card

Friends - Hold the Light by Caedmon's Call

I'm finding myself especially grateful for my friends lately. I'm thankful for friends who challenge me, love me enough to tell me I'm wrong, and love me.



Hold The Light

Written by: Andrew Osenga and Randall Goodgame

It’s been a long year, like a sleepless night
Jacob wrestled the angel but I’m too tired to fight
Every Wednesday for two years we’ve met
I’ve showed you all my anger, doubts, and bitterness
There was no judgment in your eyes
Just the silent peace of God that felt so real in you

Will you hold the light for me?
Will you hold the light for me?

And I stay up late, cause I cannot sleep
I don’t wanna face the quiet, it’s just God and me
Cause I’m waiting for the gavel handing me the sentence down
Cause I don’t believe forgiveness or even repentance now
There was no judgment in your eyes
Just the silent peace of God that felt so real in you

Will you hold the light for me?
Will you hold the light for me?

I wanna feel redemption flowing through my veins
I wanna see with clear eyes beyond lust and hate
I want the war to be over and know the good guys won
I want love to hold me and know I’m not alone

Standing round a willow weeping
We’re praying in the backyard
And the chill of the night, the friendship light reminded me
Who we are

Defiant Hope - Please Pray for the Adams

I received an email last night about the death of Madeline Adams. Madeline was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in January. She was three when she was diagnosed. She died yesterday. She was four. Her mom wrote this...

I am so sad to have to write this journal entry. I am sad for all of
the people who loved Madeline from the day she was born, and those who
have fallen in love with her through the last year. The Lord sent His
angels to Madeline again, and this time they took her home to Himself.
Pat and I are so thankful that we were allowed to know her. We are so
thankful she never seemed to be in pain until the very last few hours.
We are so thankful for the Hospice nurse who had already given us the
morphine drops in case we needed them before she could get to us. We
are so thankful she never had to be stuck with a needle again in these
last weeks when she was already so miserable. We are thankful we
didn't have to see her suffer through IVs and tubes and a hospital
stay, which would have made her so sad. We are so thankful she is free
from a body which she could not control, speech which she could not
form, and emotions and fears she was too young to understand. We are
so thankful He took her home at night while our young children were
asleep. We are so thankful for all of you who helped us, loved us,
cried with us, prayed with us, and hoped with us. We are so thankful
that she had a welcoming committee in her true home full of people we
love and miss. We are so thankful that she is even now held in her
Father's arms and is finally comfortable, or as she would say, cozy.
We are so thankful that this life is just a mist in the grand scheme
of eternity, and in light of that, we will be reunited with her very
soon. We are so thankful that we can rejoice in her gain and allow the
thoughts of that help us to overcome our feelings of loss. We are so
thankful that He heals the brokenhearted, and because of the road He
has led us down in the past, we can begin this new road knowing He is
faithful.

God's grace and faithfulness in times of tragedy are indescribable. When I read the post of a broken-hearted, yet thankful mother I was reminded of a song I heard a few weeks ago by Sara Groves. God's people, his children, have been given a hope that defies all we see. The blood of Christ gives faith and hope in the most desperate times.

“Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in His great campaign of sabotage” - C.S. Lewis

The day when Madeline is reunited with her parents is coming soon. The day when no little girls ever get inoperable brain tumors is on its way. That day was secured by the rightful king. The most powerful battles his followers fight are usually fought in weakness. I can't think of a greater soldier than a broken-hearted, aching mother who can thank God in the midst of the unimaginable.

Madeline's life glorified God. Madeline's death reminds us all of the fall and the terrible consequences of sin. But, her life, the one she lives today in the presence of the great king boldly reminds us of God's redemption and grace. Let us follow her mommy as she follows her Savior, doing sabotage to the enemy's futile attempts of stealing God's world.


In The Girl There's A Room
by Sara Groves

in the girl there's a room
in the room there's a table
on the table there's a candle
and it won't burn out

in the woman there’s a song
in the song there is hope
in the hope revolution

in the boy there's a voice
in the voice there's a calling
in the call there's a promise
and it won't quiet down

in the man there's vision
in the vision is a road
it's the road to his freedom...

oh, tell me what you know
about god and the world and the human soul
how so much can go wrong
and still there are songs

in the man there’s a plan
in the plan is his future
and the future’s for his child and he won’t slow down

in the girl there is faith
and the faith there’s a prayer
in the prayer there’s a promise

in the boy is a dream
in the dream he is standing
and he stands without falling
and he won't back down

in the woman is a picture
in the picture is a girl
in the girl there's a room...

in our hearts and souls
an unstoppable refrain
hope stands in defiance

in the girl there’s a room
in the room there’s a table
on the table there’s a candle and it won’t burn out
it won’t burn out