First Coming
by Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

Chesterton Quote

In that place they dined and slept, both very thoroughly. The beans and bacon, which these unaccountable people cooked well, the astonishing emergence of Burgundy from their cellars, crowned Syme’s sense of a new comradeship and comfort. Through all this ordeal his root horror had been isolation, and there are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematicians that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one.

behold the lamb is in lakeland tonite and i won't be there... a thousand "ugh"s

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=701522391363&ref=nf
link

I hadn't previously noticed that he ends the album with an echo of track 2 "hosanna"...
like this:
Hosanna! O Hosanna! Hail the long awaited king, come to set his people free. We cry O Hosanna! Won’t you tear this temple down, raise it up on holy ground. O Hosanna! I will lift my voice and sing: you have come and washed me clean. Hosanna.

All I know is that I was blind but now I see that though I kick and scream,
Love is leading me.
And every step of the way
his
grace
is
making
me;

with every breath I breathe,
he
is
saving
me.
And I believe.

So when my body’s weak and the day is long, when I feel my faith is all but gone, I’ll remember when I sing this song that I believe. I believe he is the Christ, Son of the living God, my Lord, my Savior. Oh, hosanna, I believe.

He has come! He is coming! He will come again!!

Prayer is the naming of desire before God. It's a cry for redemption that always begins with avowing the scandal that God is both present and absent. --dan allender, how chdrn raise prnts, page 172

The physical heart must be exercised to grow stronger, and that discipline requires some sweat & pain. So does the growth of our emotional heart. Our love grows to the degree that we suffer & refuse to turn cold & hard.

In a world like ours, suffering is not a choice, but misery is. If in the face of suffering we say, "Enough, no more. I quit," we are choosing misery, not growth.

--dan allender, How Children Raise Parents, page 134

.... Still developing....

Bebe, you turn 70 tomorrow!!
mr. Smarty Pants finds himself wth an xtra hour this morning. I forgot to move clocks last nite!!

But I'm glad... Bcauuse it has given me a chance to seriously, sincerely, and happily say THANKS to God... For you!

Bebe, I have 4 other people asleep right now who sadly have learned what you know... That Rob can hurt you like few others. I look back, on my growing up AND on yday, and see how my words and gestures and actions hurt those I claim to love. I am not despairing... I know Jesus has borne my sin and "my chains are off my heart is free". And I also know that I'm realizing more what exactly He paid, in terms of my hurting people.

Bebe, you were a great mother to me in childhood....
Going to my All-Star games, you always helped me "get into" what we we were doing. Buying 25 Summit candy bars is my biggest memory.
I remember the tenderness you showed to me when I finally got up the courage to ask if you could take me to a dermatologist for my acne. You taking me and terry and clint (and letting us each bring a friend!) to grandma's each summer. Looking back on you doing that by yourself floors me. Thank you!

Parenting is so hard! I am seeing for myself right now. I have zero memories of you ever communicating that I was a bother to you or that you were ashamed of me. When I look at my own silent communications to my children I cannot say the same thing. And when I think of how I treated Terry & Clint--my brothers & your sons--oh, how my heart breaks for what that must've been like for you. I am so sorry and still count my self-righteous/mean attitude toward them as one of my biggest regrets in life.

Random:
--I love my Methodist roots
--- the freedom you gave me at 22 to move 10 hrs away from home with no guilt... And you have never wavered in that, neither Calfornia nor Gainesville have you tried to keep us from.


----I am proud to be from stk
---I fondly remember being puiblic skool teacher's son (what a servant's podition)

....Unfinished...

Blessed are the poor in spirit...

For yours is the Kingdom of God!



...

amazing... still haven't found what i'm looking for

yesterday on my jog i did the last mile in the fastest i've done in a while (8:18) listening to this song and remembering that i used to criticize U2 for not being "happy in Jesus" in this song...

i now know that knowing Jesus holds the hope and promise of finding what i'm looking for... but not in this world

....today i see that this song is the #1 most played song on this ipod

The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about
for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction
of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he
rests the foot of his faith upon this truth-"I am the Lord, I change not.
"

The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained
a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian's hope affords him when it
fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God "is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning." What ever his attributes were of old, they are
now; his power, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, are alike unchanged.
He has ever been the refuge of his people, their stronghold in the day of
trouble, and he is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in his love.
He has loved his people with "an everlasting love"; he loves them now as
much as ever he did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the
last conflagration, his love will still wear the dew of its youth.
Precious is the assurance that he changes not! The wheel of providence
revolves, but its axle is eternal love.
---- Spurgeon, morning

And Stott today on Ronans twelve... His mercies are our motivation!

Hosanna!

...

Christ will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax... But will CHERISH those with whom He so deals. --Sibbes, page 7

So you say there is no hope
Maybe God is dead and gone
So you think that He can't break a heart that's harder than a stone
So you feel so wrecked and dirty He could never make you new
Well man, have I got news for you!

I'm so compelled to tell you that it's true.... SO TRUE!
Listen, i've got news for you!
I've got good news for you

--AP

All I know is that I was blind but now I see
Though I kick & scream, love is leading me
Every step of the way His grace is making me
Every breath I breathe, He is saving me.

1. Preach Gospel to Self
--I am a sinner
Rom7! my sin has not shocked God or caught Him unawares... He elected me, atoned for me and sent His Spirit KNOWING that I would fail and wander... Jesus came for the sick.... ps 40... "as for me I am poor and needy"
-- I am a son
my status is certain... romans 8! I received the spirit of adoption as sons... the Spirit Himself bears witness! all rights & privileges are mine

2. Rest in His Goodness and sovereignty
All that I call good is from You and is good
All that I call bad is from You and shall be used for good
You control every word I've spoken, every coincidence that got me to this moment... your plan is working, grant me faith to rest in it, not fight it
"Jesus, I am resting... slowly finding out the greatness of your loving heart."

3. Offer self as lving sacrifice
Jesus, I'm yours. You are all i got. Manifest your glory in and through me today. May I enter every conversation filled with hope in You and your gospel... and pass that hope on thru my tone of voice, words, and actions and facial expressions and reactions.

Hannah

That sermon by Keller on Hannah's prayer has sustained me during a hard week. Some scattered notes...

At the point of moral inability, confessing your spiritual barrenness...

In general, God begins a new chapter of his power in your life at your greatest point of hopelessness and helplessness...

take barrenness to God

in teeth of hopelessness and helplessness

If you are confused, at wits end... absolutely helpless and hopeless... Say to God, "I'm going to obey you MORE right now than ever."

God will always use your suffering, but don't expect to understand how during your lifetime. ((This says to me, "Rob--keep an eschatological perspective."))

Hope in Him

My hope lives not because
I am not a sinner, but because I am a sinner for whom Christ died; my
trust is not that I am holy, but that being unholy, he is my
righteousness.
My faith rests not upon what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in
what Christ is, in what he has done, and in what he is now doing for me.

"Accepted in the beloved."
- Ephesians 1:6



What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but
the term "acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that
we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How
marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, should be the objects of
divine love! But it is only "in the beloved." Some Christians seem to be
accepted in their own experience, at least, that is their apprehension.
When their spirit is lively, and their hopes bright, they think God
accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above
the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims
of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could but see that
all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do
not really depress them in their Father's sight, but that they stand
accepted in One who never alters, in One who is always the beloved of God,
always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, how
much happier they would be, and how much more they would honour the
Saviour! Rejoice then, believer, in this: thou art accepted "in the
beloved." Thou lookest within, and thou sayest, "There is nothing
acceptable here!" But look at Christ, and see if there is not everything
acceptable there. Thy sins trouble thee; but God has cast thy sins behind
his back, and thou art accepted in the Righteous One. Thou hast to fight
with corruption, and to wrestle with temptation, but thou art already
accepted in him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts
thee; be of good cheer, he cannot destroy thee, for thou art accepted in
him who has broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance thy glorious
standing.
Even glorified souls are not more accepted than thou art.
They are only accepted in heaven "in the beloved," and thou art even now
accepted in Christ after the same manner.

Spurgeon's morning and Stott on Romans 8 were so good this morning

Whatever our
desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread all
before him. It matters not how much we may have sinned, we may ask and
expect pardon. It signifies nothing how poor we are, we may plead his
promise that he will provide all things needful. We have permission to
approach his throne at all times-in midnight's darkest hour, or in
noontide's most burning heat. Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up
to thy privilege.
Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ-wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Spurgeon's evening is fitting

"And they follow me."
- John 10:27

We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their
shepherd, for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not
our own, we are bought with a price-let us recognize the rights of the
redeeming blood. The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his
master, much more must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased
possession. We are not true to our profession of being Christians, if we
question the bidding of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty,
cavilling is our folly. Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, "What
is that to thee? Follow thou me." Wherever Jesus may lead us, he goes
before us. If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such
a companion, who will dread the perils of the road? The journey may be
long, but his everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence of
Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because he lives, we shall
live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the
paths in which he leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true
they may not be smooth paths-they may be covered with sharp flinty trials,
but they lead to the "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker
is God." "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep
his covenant." Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that,
come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt,
his purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled
good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak
side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces,
his dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit at home and
warm their hands at the world's fire.
To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards,
we will follow our Beloved.
Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after thee.

book by Sam Storms.

In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus, the hero, must sail his ship through dangerous waters near an island of Sirens. The Sirens were an evil, man-eating monster that entranced passersby with songs so beautiful that they could then control the thoughts and actions of the sailors, driving them to crash their boats on shore, and be devoured by the seductive beasts. Odysseus, being well aware of their powers, commands his crew to plug their ears, and chain him to the mast. You see, though he knew the dangers, he still longed to hear the Siren’s songs. And hear them he did: the Sirens even took the shape of his own wife, capturing all of his passions: heart, mind, soul, & strength. He was only restrained from redirecting the ship by the chains binding him to it’s mast. Yet, Odysseus survived the temptation of the Siren’s song, at least physically.

In another Greek myth, the Argonautica by Appolonius of Rhodes, our hero is Jason. On his journey home from his quest to find the ‘Golden Fleece’, he travels the same route as Ulysses, and also encounters the same threat. However, heading wise instruction, he brought with him the musician, Orpheus, who was renown for playing the lyre so beautifully that nothing could compare to his music. Instead of plugging their ears, and tying Jason to the mast, like Odysseus, Jason simply asked Orpheus to play his finest tune. Jason and his crew didn’t even notice the songs of the Sirens because they were entranced my music far more lovely: the songs of Orpheus.

RP: May you hear the freeing song of Jesus and find hope.

today my calendar brought up this reminder for Lent

Lent 2009
Groaning & waiting ... Using lent to reflect on our present suffering and our future glory... But what about nehemiah and moving into building??

4 Little Girls, At Church... 45 years ago in B'ham

I know part of what I'll be talking with my children about tonight....

Today, 45 years ago, four little black girls were killed in the Birmingham church bombing.

brief article with pictures


.

Psalm 56:8

You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?

Been thinking about grief

and thought I had a copy of grief observed by lewis but can't find it...

was reminded recently that grieving is a PROCESS and that the pain of loss can hit you in layers.... so if you are grieving now, remember that!
if you are not grieving now, prepare for that!

The reality is that you can have one thing happen (smell a flower, hear a song, etc) that reminds you of your loved one that you've lost and BOOM! it is back, the grief has found a new layer

amazon has lewis' GRIEF OBSERVED and you can also preview it at google print:
http://books.google.com/books?id=udTb0EEDpGAC&dq=CS+Lewis+grief+observed&pg=PP1&ots=U4i0cDh1gR&sig=udqC81MVIY292PNDZCk_bISH388&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPR11,M1

spurgeon aug 1

Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean today in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one: “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.” Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but he will not quench thee; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans thee to a flame. Wouldst thou glean another ear? “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What soft words! Thy heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaketh so gently to thee. Wilt thou not obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” How canst thou fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? Thou mayest gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! “I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions.” Or this, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Or this, “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Our Master’s field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before thee, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them thine own, for Jesus bids thee take them.
Be not afraid, only believe!
Grasp these sweet promises,
thresh them out by meditation
and feed on them with joy.

fernando ortega

Though I am weak
Sometimes weary
In times of trial
I hide my face
In the balance
Judge me wholly
Please don't judge me
By my shame

In dark hours
Of confrontation
When words may fall
Too soon to unsay
Don't mistake them
For my true meaning
They are measures
Of my shame

I have tried to
Live life humbly
Not a coward
Not in vain
When my meekness
Overcomes me
Remember me
Not my shame
Not my shame

I am small
And self-conscious
Every mirror
Reflects the grain
Judge my essence
By my kinships
Remember me
Not my shame

I am weak
Sometimes weary
Sometimes small
I hide away
When my hours
Are all accounted
Please don't bind me
To my shame

I have tried to
Live life humbly
Not a coward
Not in vain
When my meekness
Overcomes me
Remember me
Not my shame
Not my shame

Walk On .... and Communion

I remember a time when I was struggling as I prepared for communion. It was a Friday and I was really NOT wanting to let go of a vicious attitude. Not just a harmful attitude but plans for destruction as well.

You should know that I think that to come to the table in a healthy manner means basically to say, "Jesus, I'm yours and you're mine. You've bought me. I will follow you wherever. And yes, my desires and plans in (insert whatever) are not from you. So I won't pursue them. Give me strength to walk with you. This is the real desire of my heart. The part of me that wants to run is emerging from my unbelief and brokenness... from my refusal to live in this hard "in between" time.

As I jogged and listened to Walk On and wrestled with my tired heart... images from Romans 8 kept coming to me


And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring...
And love is not the easy thing....
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can’t steal it
No they can’t even feel it
Walk on, walk on...
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can’t sell it, can’t buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home… hard to know what it is if you’ve never had one
Home… I can’t say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the hurt is

I know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
All that you scheme…