Lifehouse Everything - Drama

My mate Kevin Burrowes pointed me in the direction of this little drama to song. He referred me to a different version found on GodTube. Whilst up here in the crib with the missus as we enjoy some chill time I researched whether it was on YouTube being my video place of choice. So I came across the first version and then with the wife really excited about it we did a little look at this version and liked it as well, so I’m posting this one. It’s just the way it is.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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Faith Like a Teenager

Intriguing insight into the difference between faith like a child and faith like a teenager.

For His Name's sake
Shalom
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John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

There are a number of clips of John Piper's views on the prosperity gospel. This is a good idea of his view. Very strong, not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd rather have God as being enough than make demands of God as if He's my goodie-bag giver.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man

Cheap Christianity

Although I endeavour not to dwell on certain things too long, it is a slight concern the way Christianity can come across as either an easy route to an easy life where all your wants and wishes are supplied or where God is our servant to do what we will in making the world a better place to live in. There’s this marketing of Christianity as a desirable commodity that people can buy into relatively easily ‘just believe’ as if that step is the easiest thing in the world to do. Something’s not quite right with this picture of a Way of life that was marked out by it’s Founder who endured a reputation as a suffering servant rejected by men with no place to lay His head. Something doesn’t quite make sense holding this easy marketing approach to a faith that Christ states can only be accessed through a narrow gate that only a few find.

Despite everything God is still speaking and saying some amazing things. Earlier today I was reading J.C. Ryle’s Holiness and it was touching a pertinent topic for me as I consider the issue of discipleship. Chapter five of this brilliant book looks at the cost of being holy.

Ryle explores the issue in three parts, first checking what the cost it, then why it’s important to count the cost and ending with how people can count the cost properly. Whether it’s with people starting the journey in earnest or with apparent seasoned veterans in this Christian walk, it’s good to re-evaluate whether or not we really have counted the cost of holiness, whether we calculate what it is to take on following Jesus as a serious life-consuming enterprise.

There’s a stunning quote he says at the end of the section on what the cost is, but before I get there it’s worth noting what Ryle considers to be the cost of holiness, they are – 1) Self-righteousness – we depend only on Christ for righteousness, not bible reading, church attendance, prayer, knowledge, etc. 2) Sins – must be willing to give up everything that opposes God and godliness especially those that we’ve been wrapped up in for so long. 3) Love of Ease – comfort is not part of the Christian goal in the journey; it comes with pain and so requires diligence in ‘tongue, temper and thoughts’. 4) Favour with the World – we’re got to be prepared for rejection and ridicule, pressure and persecution accused of being fanatical, extreme and foolish as that’s what the Master endured so it’s part of the deal.

Of course I’d recommend you get the book if you want to find out what more he says about counting the cost and holiness in general, it does come highly recommended. What’s really cool about the way he outlines the costs is how he states the difficulty we have with all these as they affect parts of our lives in which we’re most comfortable and used to living. Yet these are the necessities of true discipleship, this is part of what the whole taking up the cross involves.

Indeed it is the issue of the cross that brings up the priceless quote – ‘A cheap Christianity without a cross, will prove in the end a useless Christianity, without a crown.’ (Ryle 1879, 2007 page 70) We just had our Lord’s Supper on Friday night and reflecting on the great price paid at Calvary and how it pleased the Lord to crush His only Son for the sins of humanity makes this whole carrying the cross issue al the more serious and leads me to want to express this even more in my life. Never mind the state of Christendom in the Western World, UK, England, Stoke-on-Trent, my church or even my home, I’m all the more concerned to know my Christianity is not on the cheap side.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

A Brief Blast From The Past

I recently heard about Twitter, but cannot yet get myself involved in something that sounds so silly – as in the name, not necessarily the concept – and in any case this blog offers a better chance to say something short and snappy and then knowing me I can get a bit long and winding. In this case, though I’ll be brief.

While the daughters are dwelling in the bath I take the opportunity to come upstairs crank up the laptop and start the session with a bit of Michael Bolton. I’ve never been a big fan of his, but I don’t deny the quality of this song. Apparently it’s from the album of the same name which will be 18 years old later on today. The video is a good vestige of 80’s rock ballads. Interesting lyrics as well. I’m not quite sure if nothing can heal the broken heart like … but if he’s referring to Christ then we’re rocking and rolling on Sesame Street as far as that’s concerned.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Comeback Kid Comes Back Again

Yeah, I feel bad that I’ve neglected this here blog for the best part of a month – it’s just not good enough following my desire to blog properly more often. Yet I know I am forgiven and the Lord truly does not want me to live in condemnation I’ll apply the godly sorrow principle and simply repent – which I begin in earnest with this entry.

First and foremost since the last entries which were LIVE from the Mission Shaped Ministry training, I’ve gone through an interesting time ‘on leave’! I’ve come out of it with a renewed desire to honour my Heavenly Father by pursuing His Son whole-heartedly by being led by His Spirit.

This evening I had a conversation with my sister who pointed out something really spot on when it comes to things like fasting. It’s so important when we learn something from God that we follow it through now and apply it now as there will come a time when we want to apply certain things or fall back on stuff we should have learnt ages ago and there will be nothing to go back to. The last thing we want to do is live in regret and so it’s almost as if God is getting us to make the most of our time now and activate the things we’ve heard from Him and store some stuff in the spiritual bank to make withdrawals when the chips are down. My own journey is that I’m between regretting not having done what I could have and missing out on making the most of where what I know could take me. So for the sake of the argument I’m just looking to take each day as it comes as though God wants me to live it to the full and witness the many opportunities He’s put to see His will come through in various situations.

Right – coming soon to this blog will be the study series I’m doing with CSD team on fasting part one provisionally entitled Desperately Seeking God or it could just as easily be called Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures. Look out for that among other blog initiatives that I hope to get up and running sooner rather than …

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
da man cd