The Circle of Life

This is a most amazing video!

Things I've learned this week

OK, so I haven't written anything in a while. Feeling guilty about that. I don't know why. Anyway.....

Some things I've learned lately:

I heard in passing recently, that the Jewish Sanhedrin has reformed and is working toward reestablishing the Temple rituals, including animal sacrifice. They have a website. http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/
Is this a sign?

I'm looking for a book, well technically I haven't been to the bookstore to see if they have it, but I will be. It's a book by David Cho about prayer. I don't know the title so this could be an interesting search. (Yes! I know I can google the name and probably find the book, that takes all the fun out of searching the shelves of the local bookstore)


There is a tea for singers and speakers. From what I've heard it's a miracle tea. I guess you can get it at any grocery store. I haven't checked yet. It's called: Throat Coat

Throat Coat® supports throat health because it includes herbs traditionally used to enhance the structure and function of the throat including speaking (vocal cords), swallowing (esophagus) and air conveyance (trachea).* Althea root and slippery elm bark contain beneficial mucilaginous components that are released into hot water to form a protective viscid ‘coating’ on the mucous membrane lining of the throat when ingested as a tea. Throat Coat® also contains licorice root, which is widely used to enhance throat and upper respiratory tract health.* Throat Coat’s naturally sweet and smooth taste make it an easy tea for children to enjoy and the first choice of speakers, singers or anyone living in a damp, cold climate.
Gonna have to pick some up


Have you been to QDoba yet? It's a great little mexican, freshly made, fast food restaurant. They have this thing called Mexican Gumbo. You gotta try it. http://www.qdoba.com/Default.aspx

Learned from another Blog

From bobfranquiz.com: Bring a book with you wherever you go. You never know when you're going to get 15 minutes to just sit and read. Most of my reading happens in-between other things that are going on.

A reminder

This is a great reminder to be thankful for what we have, and be aware of our responsibility to share what we have.
Click on this link
http://www.miniature-earth.com/

Great Wisdom

We've all had those moments in life when a statement you hear, makes an impact on your life. I was watching a "Passion One Day" video a few years back. Included in that video is a sermon by John Piper. It's kind of shocking actually. It doesn't seem to fit. John is a great speaker and you would think would be "above" speaking to this group of young people at a Christian "Woodstock" like event (I know now that the "Passion" organization is so much more than worship music and camping out). I love this statement. It's a great reminder to live my life for God's glory. You can read the whole message at: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/EssentialPiper/1483_Boasting_Only_in_the_Cross/

I tell you what a tragedy is. I'll read to you from Reader's Digest (Feb. 2000, p. 98) what a tragedy is: "Bob and Penny... took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells." The American Dream: come to the end of your life - your one and only life - and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be "I collected shells. See my shells." THAT is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get forty minutes to plead with you: don't buy it.
Don't waste your life. It is so short and so precious. I grew up in a home where my father spent himself as an evangelist to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. He had one consuming vision: Preach the gospel. There was a plaque in our kitchen for all my growing up years. Now it hangs in our living room. I have looked at it almost daily for about 48 years. It says, "Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Heard on the Radio

I was listening to the Bob Dutko show on my lunch hour today. He was interviewing an author of a new book questioning the existence of God. He was of course an atheist and evolutionist, and unfortunately a professor. Toward the end of the interview He made a statement that caught my attention. In speaking about America and Evolution/Atheism, He stated.

Europe is 30 years "ahead" of America, in terms of its acceptance of evolution and it's rejection of God. And that, eventually America would catch up to Europe in its sensibility. (paraphrased)

About 20 years ago now, I remember hearing a missionary to England speak about the decline of Christianity in England and that most of the church buildings had been turned into restaurants or other businesses. I remember thinking how sad that was. And being concerned that America was heading in the same direction.

What should be our response to these disturbing statements?

Days have gone by without a new post from me. What's up with that? So here are some random thoughts.

Cassie is home from her first year of college. It seems that I'm reminded almost daily of the swift passage of time, and this milestone is yet another reminder of that fact. By the way we need to find another house to store all of her stuff.

I've been reading a book titled "The Art of Worship". It's probably the best book on Praise and Worship that I've yet read. Very practical advice and some really great wisdom in between. One phrase has stuck with me.

I started to realize that worship music wasn't B grade secular music; it was music that served a particular purpose-the praise of God.

Worship music has a purpose. Can we say that about any other music genre? OK, sure, music, any kind of music, your favorite band for instance, makes you happy, soothes your mind, relaxes or invigorates you. But is that really a purpose? When you look at worship music in that way, that it has a particular purpose, your particular likes and dislikes, take on a less significant role in your own worship. I should be able to worship God with any style of music. It's not about the style, it's about the worship of God.

New Topic:
I received a note this past week from a couple of different sources, regarding the murder of 3 missionaries in a small town in Turkey. The detail regarding their deaths was very disturbing. I was left speechless. In thinking about it since, I find that I'm grateful to live in a country where I can still practice my faith, however, I'm ashamed of my failure to even pray for those whom God has called to serve, sometimes in very difficult situations, sometimes even giving their lives. I've heard Tony Campolo say that we should all be missionaries, unless we're called to stay home. I should be willing to go and take the place, and pick up the mantel of these martyred men.

A Remarkable Young Lady

Donna and I we're reminded again last evening that we have a most remarkable daughter. We attended an honors symposium where Cassie recieved the Directors award from Rochester College. According to the presenter, this is not an award given out every year, only when an exemplary student is noticed by the faculty. Woo Woo! She was also chosen to perform at the honors recital. She sang a Beethoven piece in German and and Italian piece (can't remember the composer's name). She of course was the best of the performers. Now if only we could get her mother to stay out of the fruit tart tin during the performance (made a little noise). By the way the new "Fruit Tarts" from lifesavers........very tasty.

Style

The following article (in italics) was written by a worship leader named Jami Smith. I agree with what is stated here. I especially appreciate this statement:

A heart in love with God does not need its favorite style of music playing to express itself to God.

By the way, I'm also convicted by this statement. I'm not simply telling you how you should think, I'm mostly telling myself. To be totally honest here, I've grown very weary of the continued debate regarding style. The "not enough hymns", "too many repeated phrases", not enough guitar, the drums are too loud, you don't talk enough, you talk too much, complaints, combined with the expectation of absolute, perfection from the praise teams, choir and sound technicians, .............sometimes ......well........... Read the article.

Will we survive this worship trend? Will we emerge as worshippers of God or trend followers? I am asking God to alert my senses to what is cultural Christianity and what is biblical Christianity. This pursuit is important to me because I want this generation to grow up worshipping God with their lives, but also understanding that music, scripture, art, silence... these things are but tools that remind us that He is the Prize, not these things in and of themselves. We must be careful not to perpetuate a form of legalism, but instead teach others to worship God, not a style, a sound, a worship song, or a worship leader. I want to help teach the body of Christ not to be confused about the purpose of corporate worship. I have unfortunately heard about adults and students saying things like, "I am not going to that conference because this person is leading or this person is not leading," or "I only go to church when he or she leads." Statements like these expose not stylistic preference but heart issues. A heart in love with God does not need its favorite style of music playing to express itself to God. The musical debate continues to rage over traditional versus contemporary. I am so tired of Satan confusing us and getting our eyes off of Jesus. When our attention is so focused on our preference, we abandon the Prize to crusade our style and it becomes idolatry, ultimately, cheating ourselves. Anytime I worship anything other than God, I cheat me. If I enjoy your response to me or my music more than God, I cheat me; if I enjoy music and the emotions it makes me feel more than God, I cheat me; if I enjoy a new song taking shape musically with the band more than I enjoy God, again I cheat me and miss out on the blessings and sheer joy of interacting with the Lover of my soul and the Savior of the world. I pray we will stop wasting time and start focusing our attention and affection on the One who can satisfy. (Psalm 63)

New Music

Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship

In the quote below, this album is referred to as rootsy, Americana style. I'm not sure what that means but I like the album so far. The music is acoustic guitar, and fiddle driven. A very interesting, unexpected concept coming from Third Day's Mac Powell.

taken from Lifeway website
The Word of God is more powerful than the pen of man, who better to help write our worship songs? Who better to reveal God’s glory to us than God himself?
This central premise, coupled with the fertile soil of friendship between Mac Powell (Third Day) and speaker/author/minister David Nasser, gave birth to Glory Revealed, a new multi-artist worship project taking lyrics directly from scripture.
"The glory of the Lord is best revealed in His Word," David Nasser passionately explains, "When we begin to dig into the truth that is found in the pages of the bible, we will begin to see His glory revealed."
Powell whole-heartedly agreed and began producing an album with contributing vocals from friends such as Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, Michael W. Smith and David Crowder, just to name a few. The project’s rootsy, Americana style and scriptural content provides a beautiful backdrop for bible study, reflection and worship.

You can click on each of the songs to hear a short clip
Track Listing:
He Will Rejoice
By His Wounds
Waters Gone By – Hyper Static Union's Shawn Lewis
To The Only God – David Crowder and Shane & Shane
Glory Revealed – Candi Pearson-Shelton
Altar Of God – Josh Bates
Come, Worship The King – Michael W. Smith with Shane & Shane
Who Is Like You – Tim Neufeld
Restore To Me – Mac Powell and Candi Pearson-Shelton
You Alone – Brian Littrell

The Gospel

The Gospel is powerful! It is God's remedy for a world where tragedy is a daily news story. Wouldn't the Gospel have changed the outcome of the Virginia Tech story? Wouldn't the Gospel have prevented it altogether?

The thing about the Gospel is that it's GOOD NEWS.

NEWS has to be shared, lived, yelled if necessary!

So.........Which one of us failed to share, live or yell?

Was it me?

Hymns Or Praise and Worship

I thought this was pretty funny. I guess its been around for a while, but I saw it today for the first time.

Not long ago a farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church.
He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
"Well," said the farmer, "It was good.
They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."
"Praise choruses," said his wife, "What are those?"
"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer. "
"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.
The farmer said, "Well it's like this - If I were to say to you:`Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a hymn.
If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:
`Martha Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS
are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn,
the CORN, CORN, CORN,'
Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times,
well that would be a praise chorus."

A Season In Your Path

Have you noticed that God often places certain people in your life for just a short period of time. I had another one of those birthdays just the other day. You know those days that come up once a year to remind you that time is passing by. I know, I'm jumping around. Stay with me! I'm now 45 years old. (this is one of those times when you see something in print and go hmmmm...............I think its the 4 and the 5 together thats bothersome.) For roughly 45 years now, lots of different people have crossed my path. Some are still in my path, most have crossed it and moved on. Wayne Watson has a great song called "A Season in Your Path". Here's the chorus:

Sometimes I think about you
Some old memories make me cry
Remembering the good times makes me laugh
But all in all I’m richer
For the happy and the sad
And I'm thankful for a season in your path

I'm grateful to have had a season in the path of Connie Martin. We paid tribute today to the memory of this wonderful Christian lady. I learned from Connie, that to be kind, really kind.....is of great worth. I learned that your faith should be carried around with you, so that everyone knows about it and doesn't question it when your life here on earth is finished. Most of all I learned that among many jobs God calls us to, we should be affecting, encouraging, praying for, those that God places in our path. Go sing with the choir, Connie!

Donna says:

Donna says that if you spend more than $25 a week at Starbucks, you have a problem.

The way I see: "The Way I See it"

Yes, I know that Starbucks coffee is overpriced and a waste of money. Doesn't change the fact that I like to have a Mocha every now and then. The side of the cup always includes a quote, called "The Way I See It" Here it is"

I used to think that going to the jungle made my life an adventure. However, after years of unusual work in exotic places, I realize that it is not how far off I go or how deep into the forest I walk that gives my life meaning. I see that living life fully is what makes life-anyone's life, no matter where they do or do not go-an adventure. Maria Fadiman

So, living life fully is what makes life an adventure. Is there a spiritual truth here? Does God want us to live a full, adventurous life?............. Well? ............Does He?........
Absolutely! But............
What does it mean to live a full, adventurous Christian life. Now there's a question!
Here's my two cents: A full adventurous Christian life is one lived in relationship with Christ. As a result of that relationship, we will learn to trust him with everything. Maybe this is too simplistic, but then maybe we've made it too complicated. As my friend Shirley Ferrans used to say, "It's all about relationship".
God, please remind me, minute by minute of my need for you. Draw me closer. Make me more like You.

Here's a pic from Easter practice.