The Time Has Come

Faith, Works, and the Transforming Kingdom of God

James — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:24:24 +0000

For a very long time, many in the Christian world have had a difficult time reconciling Paul and James when it comes to faith & works. Unfortunately, my observation is that this is usually because they knee-jerk to certain Biblical language based on traditional views, and then listen to neither what Paul nor James is actually saying. I do not believe the two are at odds, and I don’t believe that James is promoting works/merit-based salvation. He wasn’t starting a fight with Paul, nor was he refuting Sola fide. These ideas were not even on his radar (nor were they on Paul’s). Sometimes we have a hard time not reading current debates into old discussions that knew nothing of the Calvinist/Orthodox/Arminian/etc. arguments. In this case, my bet is that James would probably not be too impressed with such discussions, as they miss the point of what he was saying by 180º and a million miles, and in so doing they keep us from realizing the great wisdom of his words and their power to help us in our walk with Christ.

So, what do I believe he says he was talking about? Listen to today’s Sanctify My Heart.

Faith, Works, and the Transforming Kingdom of God, posted with vodpod

Agree/disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Lord of the Dance – Shaker Style

James — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:01:34 +0000

I came across this video of the Shaker song “Lord of the Dance” via Larry James’s blog this morning. The Shakers’ first settlement in America was in what is now Watervliet, about a 14 mile trip from here at the office. While their furniture and dress were quite simple, maybe even stiff, their worship was known to be quite exuberant. They danced, shook, and spoke in tongues, hence the name Shakers. People in Albany were known to visit their worship assemblies for the sole purpose of being entertained by their dances.

Regardless of your views of Shaker worship and tradition, this song has a great message, and just might be worth us learning sometime.

Awakening the Church to the Lord of the Harvest – Jim McGuiggan

James — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:45:14 +0000

Jim’s message begins about 15 minutes into the video.

Awakening the Church to the Lord of the Harvest…, posted with vodpod

Awakening the Church to the Year of the Lord’s Favor – Jim McGuiggan

James — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:02:05 +0000

The Sunset International Bible Institute’s annual workshop is going on right now, and some of the speakers are being streamed via Ustream. Last night Jim McGuiggan preached an outstanding message on our need to be awakened to the hurting, the broken, and the ignored of the world. Trust me, this is well worth a listen!

Keith Lancaster is leading the singing, and that is the first 11 minutes of this video, then Jim begins.

Awakening the Church to the Year of the Lord’s …, posted with vodpod

Photos from my home state of Texas

James — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:21:35 +0000

A friend from back home in West Texas sent me this video today. I alway cringe when people tell me their only knowledge of West Texas is what they seen driving from the airport to 34th Street in Lubbock. It’s like judging the state of New York by what you see on Central Ave. in Albany (not pretty, folks). So, I pass this video along to share the kinds of scenes that make up my home state out west.

This video is by Wyman Meinzer, the only official state photographer of Texas.

5 Classic Hymns You’ll have to “Pry from My Cold Dead Fingers” #2

James — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:37:59 +0000

When we sing hymns or praise and worship songs today, we rarely bat an eye if the song is written in the first person. Whether it is the famous line from John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” that says, “I once was lost, but now I’m found,” or a more modern lyric such as “I stand in awe of you,” we are very comfortable singing songs that are personal in their themes. At this point, I doubt we would have it any other way. There have been a few contemporary complaints about this, generally along the vein that some songs might be a little too personal…of those I’ve read, their real complaint is not that the songs are personal, but just plain sappy. I get that. I don’t like sappy songs either. However, there was a time in Christian history where this was not an issue at all. You see, for centuries the only songs allowed in some churches were those of the Book of Psalms set to music. The song featured today changed all that.

In 1707 Isaac Watts changed the world of Christian hymns forever with one beautiful, short hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Not only does the song break with the tradition of his day by containing original poetry (a no, no then), but it also sparked great controversy by being a song written in the first person. Let’s see if we can see what’s so earth-shattering, shall we?

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Ah, I think I see it, now. Rarely does a song so quickly take us from our world of comfort and comfortable ideas than this, and far too often the religious prefer to keep such “emotion” at an arms length. Isn’t that really part of what got Jesus in so much trouble, too? The Sermon on the Mount is full of Jesus transforming the impersonal to the personal (that’s the force behind all those “you have heard it said/but I say unto you” statements). From the the very first line, Watts takes us by the hand and leads us to a terrible scene—one that can’t be really be sung about as stale doctrine or stain-glassed platitudes. No, this scene, this sacrifice, this ultimate act of love must be seen as personal, as an act that has profound effects on me—not just “us”, not just on “them.” No one can look this deeply at the cross of Jesus and not be profoundly changed. Just as the centurion proclaimed, we are brought to the confession, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

It would be very difficult to give you a single line that is my favorite, or the most moving, or the most challenging. From the first to the last, I’m cut to the heart and convicted every time. The last stanza could possibly be it for me. “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Yes, it does; yes, it does.

Twenty-nine years ago this past September, I was baptized into Christ, and I have been singing this song longer than that. Lord willing, that’s just the beginning, because this is truly one song you’ll have to pry from my cold, dead hands, because this song—well—it’s personal.

A New Series on our Sanctify My Heart radio broadcast

James — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:18:29 +0000

Today we started a new series on the book of James with our church’s Sanctify My Heart radio ministry. As with our Sunday messages, I won’t be posting every episode to the blog (a link to the podcast is always available at the top of the page). However, I do want to post this first first lesson in the series and invite you to join us in the series, and comments are always welcome.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3, NIV In his passage is found one of the greatest hopes, and one the greatest challenges in life. Trials and hardships in life are like the sun–the same sun that softens wax hardens the clay. James wants to make sure that we have a choice in matter–whether our hearts are hardened or softened by trials–and encourages us to gain a healthy perspective. Join us as we begin a new journey through the letter of James here at Sanctify My Heart. *

A study/discussion guide for small groups is also available at the Small Group study link at the top of this page.

5 Classic Hymns You’ll have to “Pry from My Cold Dead Fingers” #1

James — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:59:25 +0000

Back in June I wrote about four hymns I just can’t sing anymore. Now I want to flip that, and share with you 5 hymns that I won’t stop singing until my last breath (but then I’ll just keep singing them after the Resurrection, too, so there!).

The first one I want to share with you is a true classic, and one that is probably on your list, too, if you have one:

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Chorus:

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

4. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Even if you don’t know the history of this hymn by Horatio Spafford (who used to be a local Lansingburg resident, don’t you know), it is one that tends to resonate deeply. Once you do, however, it’s depth is nothing short of transformational. This entry from the Wikipedia entry is actually a good summary of how the song came to be:

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871 at the age of four, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone . . .”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

This month we celebrate the birthdays of our two daughters. I cannot imagine the sense of loss and mourning this man went through. We know the loss of a child through miscarriage, and a decade and a half later a child we never met still has left a hole. I simply can’t imagine the Spafford’s grief…”when sorrows like sea billows roll” is no mere poetic line. More than that, I’m humbled and blown away by their faith in God. ”Let this blest assurance control…” That, my friends, is the very definition and core of faith in Christ–the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That’s a faith I want to sing about!

There’s a second reason I won’t stop singing this one, and why its second stanza is scribbled into my Bible in the margins next to Colossians 2:13-15. Few songs cut straight to the core of my being like this line: “My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!” That’s the grace of God set to a tune, and it’s a tune that you not only will find yourself singing as you walk, it’s one that you’ll find puts joy in your step, and confidence in your stride.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

A new series on the Gospel of Mark

James — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:00:21 +0000

On Sundays at the Troy Church of Christ, we’ll be taking a journey through the Gospel of Mark. We started this Sunday with Mark 1:15, “The Kingdom of God is Near.” I won’t be posting every mp3 here on the blog, but do want to give folks a heads up if they’re interested, and because the feedback I received Sunday leads me to thinks this message may bless others as well. Give it a listen, and feel free to come back with your thoughts/insights. The podcast will have the entire series, and can be found at: http://sermon.net/troychurch along with other lessons going back over two years. If you don’t want to subscribe in iTunes, you can follow my twitter or our congregation’s Facebook page to receive notice of new messages.
God bless and Happy New Year!

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Today as we began a journey through the Gospel of Mark, we explore three questions:
1) What’s the good news?
2) What’s the kingdom of God?
3) What’s all that mean to you and me?

An eye-opening bit of numbers on the state of the economy

James — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:26:00 +0000

The federal debt in 1990–adjusted to today’s dollars–would be $5.28 trillion, and our debt is now $15.1 TRILLION as of today and rising. That’s 2.86 x’s what it was in 1990.

Take your personal debt and multiply it by 2.86 and see what that does for your blood pressure. For example, if you owe $95,000 on your current mortgage, student loans, car, etc. now, and instead of being free & clear, you’d owe $271,685.00 in 21 years…in the hole and digging faster and deeper…still driving the same (now sputtering, probably) 21 year old car, and living in the same house, now likely upside down.

Side note: The only thing on the chart that’s better now than then is the price of milk (adjusted to today it would be ~4.50/gal). But that cheaper milk in your fridge has come at a terrible cost to dairy farmers, many of whom are no longer in business and the family farm long-auctioned off.