The Man of God

At our member meeting this week, Sojourn installed seven new elders. It was a time of great thankfulness and celebration as we praised the Lord for giving us more leaders. We love them and welcome their direction in our body of believers.

During the meeting, Michael Morgan recited a poem he wrote specifically for the installation, and it was crazy good. Here it is for your own reading. Thanks for being faithful to share your gifts with the church, Michael.

The Man of God
The man of God was crafted.
Knit in his mother’s womb
From flesh and bone and fertile soil,
And so was born.
The man of God was born.

The Word of God, a seed, was sown.
Spoken by faithful lips;
Tended by hands likewise faithful.
The man of God received.
The man of God received.

The thorns of Babel grew neck high.
Crows swept hungering down,
But the seed had grown in fertile soil,
And would not be undone.
It would not be undone.

The man of God, born far away;
The God of man sought after.
The Son of God, Christ, killed and raised,
His blood to bring men near.
The man of God brought near.
* * *
The man of God lived,
Wrought by trial. Held by living faith.
The man of God served,
Poured himself to strengthen the church.
The man of God led.
Following Christ, as others him.
* * *
Now the task.
Holy wisdom, first filling then uttered
God-shaped holes,
Hollow, aching, agape with rebellion,
Soundly filled.
Bone-soothing words point the downcast to joy.
Seasoned heirs:
Illumined word applied from weathered page.
Overseer,
Fill the holes.

To the task.
Earthy hands of a holy gardener
Planted vines,
Tended, nurtured, cultivated. But pruned.
Brought to fruit
By Master, through gardener. Watered, warmed.
Flourished root:
Strong, sweet, deep beneath Heaven’s living streams.
Overseer,
Tend the vines.

To the task.
Heav’n blueprinted holy architecture
Quarried stones,
Hewn from sooty pits by God’s lighted hand,
Placed with care;
Guided to their rest on the Cornerstone.
Walls and doors:
Christ’s cathedral of living sacrifice.
Overseer,
Place the stones.

Be equipped.
Take your staff. Urge Heaven’s flock to Glory!
Wield your staff
To strike out the teeth of serpentine wolves.
Overseer,
For your love of Christ, now, attend His sheep.

Quotes from An Abortionist

I found these quotes from this article shocking in their horrific irony:

“Abortions are performed here, a job that can endanger Carhart. ‘I’m willing to put my life on the line,’ he says.”

“He glances at the poster of Tiller [an abortionist who was murdered]. ‘I don’t want his death to be in vain.’

“I have abortion on the front of this building, because I think abortion isn’t a four-letter word. It’s a part of life.”

I’ll also say this: read that article. It’ll give you an idea on how to pray and weep, for both sides.

Keller Sermons

In case you didn’t see it on The Resurgence, Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC is offering 150 of Tim Keller’s sermons for free.

Atheistic Proselytizing

A group of eight atheistic organizations have collaborated to market atheism in New York. I won’t comment too much on this, but I will say that it’s curious how badly so-called non-religious atheists want to make proselytes. I think it reveals at least these things:

1) They believe people need to be saved from something.
2) They have a “savior.”
3) They will go to great lengths to preach their message.
4) They’re banding together as a community of “believers” (so to speak).
5) They believe their message is absolute truth.
6) They’re not satisfied with people NOT believing their message.

Religious or not? What do you think?

Humans Need Jesus: Colombian hitmen

Here’s an interview with some drug cartel hitmen. I don’t know that I have words to describe what I just read. I pray they repent, trust in Christ, and flee their current lives.

Aroma of Death

A week ago, in community group, we were discussing how the gospel is simultaneously the aroma of life to those who believe and the aroma of death to those who don’t. It’s a heavy thing to consider that some will rejoice unceasingly upon hearing about Jesus, while many more reject him and his messengers.

Al Mohler has an interesting article about how exclusive claims about Jesus are provoking negative visceral reactions in the sports world. Let it be said that sports figures are among the last people I consult for gospel encouragement, not because athletes are lesser in my eyes, but because much of what is preached in the sports world is not the gospel at all. I’d say guys like Tim Tebow are the rare exception.

Nonetheless, Mohler’s article highlights how some people are reacting to the true gospel preached by guys like Tebow. Their reaction can basically be summed up like this: We’re ok with you talking about Jesus, just not a Jesus that claims any authority or commands us to believe in him alone.

Don’t Be Ashamed

This morning I read from the Gospel of Mark: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” -8:38

Interestingly, I’ve always thought about this verse in the context of evangelism. And indeed, we should not be ashamed of Jesus as we testify to others about the person of Christ. We should be very open and expressive of our love for Him. Nonetheless, that’s not the context surrounding 8:38.

The context is setting your mind on the things of men, not of God (v.33). The context is taking up your cross to follow Jesus (v.34). The context is losing your life that you might gain it (v.35). The context is letting go of the world that you might hold onto your soul (v.36). Of course evangelism falls under those things, but so does a lot more. These verses are about our whole lives as believers. In fact, we may be unashamed to talk to others about Jesus, but the rest of our lives might look like we’re forsaking Jesus for something else.

In other words, there are other ways to be ashamed of Jesus besides the context of evangelism. We’re ashamed of Jesus when we set him aside to pursue what we think are “greater” pleasures. We’re ashamed of Jesus when we build up our own kingdoms. We’re ashamed of Jesus when we pad our lives instead of living sacrificially for the sake of others. We’re ashamed of Jesus when our lives testify to the universe, “Jesus is…ok.”

Hopefully, as our whole lives become more devoted to enjoying Jesus, so too will we be unashamed in telling other people about the hope we have in Christ.

Sojourn Class: Adoption 101

Sojourn Community Church is offering an Adoption 101 class October 21st and 28th. Register here.

There will be a theology of adoption, as well as some “how to’s”. I’m stoked.

Thou Whose Almighty Word

by John Marriott, 1813

Thou, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight;
hear us, we humbly pray,
and, where the Gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light!

Thou who didst come to bring
on thy redeeming wing
healing and sight,
heal to the sick in mind,
sight to the in-ly blind,
now to all humankind,
let there be light!

Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving holy Dove,
speed forth thy flight!
Move on the waters’ face
bearing the gifts of grace,
and, in earth’s darkest place,
let there be light!

Holy and blessèd Three,
glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might;
boundless as ocean’s tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the world far and wide,
let there be light!

God Hears His Children

With a new baby in the house, the “Father” language of the Bible is coming alive for me. Of course I know God is my Father, but being an earthly father (through failings and joys) is helping me grasp it more. Here are two ways I’m speaking of:

1. God does hear us, even if it seems like he is silent: Often Jane will cry and we do not answer her cries with immediate soothing. We’re still listening to her cry, but we are trying to be wise about what it teaches her when we immediately respond to every little whimper. Rest assured, though, that as her cries continue, her parents will do whatever is in their power to understand her ailment and seek to cure it.

I think God operates in this way, at least in some form or fashion. I don’t always have immediate answers to my prayers, though God is listening intently. Through his wise patience in answering, he is carefully teaching me things I need to know. But as my pleas continue, I can be sure that there will be an eventual rescue, and a curing of all my ills when the kingdom comes in its fulness.

2. God is patient: The fifth night we had Jane home, she decided to stay awake for two hours (12 am – 2 am). I decided I’d take a crack at soothing her back to sleep. Two hours of crying baby was more than I could handle. I became angry and was frustrated quickly — a mixture of, “What is wrong with you?” and “How dare you disturb my sleep like this!” As her cries grated on me, I could not help but know that I am a wretched father in light of my Heavenly Father. He hears my cries constantly, many of them redundant. And yet, he is patient. His anger is not kindled against me and his mercy and love is continually poured out.

Dads out there, what are some other helpful fatherhood illustrations you’ve been noticing as you raise your kids?