We are in the middle of a teaching series on 1 Peter, and I thougth I would share our title slide graphic with you. Steal it if you like:
Snow Day and Blogger Good-Bye
15 years ago
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Stand Firm
We are in the middle of a teaching series on 1 Peter, and I thougth I would share our title slide graphic with you. Steal it if you like:
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
U2's "No Line on the Horizon"
U2's new album "No Line on the Horizon" dropped on Tuesday, March 3rd, but I've been listening to it for about two weeks now because the band streamed the album on their website before the official release.
After the first listen, I didn't know what to think - it was definately a departure from All That You Can't Leave Behind and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
I have now listened to it about 10 times and here is the verdict: I think this is the second best album U2 has made, behind 1991's Auchtung Baby. I know, I know, all you fundamentalists will argue for The Joshua Tree as the best album. And while this album may not be as seminal as Joshua Tree, it is a deep, layered work that will take many listens to hear all of the intracacies.
Two more quick things. I think it's U2's most overtly Christian album, with songs like Magnificent, Unknown Caller, White As Snow, Fez-Being Born, and Breathe.
Finally, the second track on the album is titled Magnificent and I believe is already, and will go down as the second best U2 song of all time behind Bad.
I can't wait to hear the new stuff live.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sacrifices, Sacrifices
So I'm reading through Leviticus right now - I know, exciting right.
and I got to thinking about all of the sacrifices that were necessary to make things right between the people and God (provide atonement for the people's sins).
Here is one small example of the many rules and regulations, taken from Leviticus 10:12-15, "Take the grain offering left over from the offerings made to the Lord by fire and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy. Eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the offerings made to the Lord by fire; for so I have been commanded. But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a cermonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites' fellowship offering. The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the offerings made by fire, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. Thsi will be the regular share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded."
I can't imagine living under these laws. I don't know how Moses, Aaron and the people remembered all they had to do. And an example of the seriousness is the immediate death of Aaron's sons (Nadab and Abihu) for lighting incense at the wrong time. I think some of the reason Nadab and Abihu did this is they simply forgot when/where they were supposed to offer incense.
I'm so thankful I live on this side of the cross, and I don't live under the sacrificial system. I'm grateful for Hebrew's 10:10, "For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time."
He fulfilled the law perfectly so I don't have to!
and I got to thinking about all of the sacrifices that were necessary to make things right between the people and God (provide atonement for the people's sins).
Here is one small example of the many rules and regulations, taken from Leviticus 10:12-15, "Take the grain offering left over from the offerings made to the Lord by fire and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy. Eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the offerings made to the Lord by fire; for so I have been commanded. But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a cermonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites' fellowship offering. The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the offerings made by fire, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. Thsi will be the regular share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded."
I can't imagine living under these laws. I don't know how Moses, Aaron and the people remembered all they had to do. And an example of the seriousness is the immediate death of Aaron's sons (Nadab and Abihu) for lighting incense at the wrong time. I think some of the reason Nadab and Abihu did this is they simply forgot when/where they were supposed to offer incense.
I'm so thankful I live on this side of the cross, and I don't live under the sacrificial system. I'm grateful for Hebrew's 10:10, "For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time."
He fulfilled the law perfectly so I don't have to!
Monday, February 23, 2009
U2
The new U2 album drops on March 3rd in the U.S., but the album is available for free download at U2's website www.u2.com.In the meantime, below is a video from the band's performance in London of what I think is the best song on the album - Magnificent.
I've listened to the album 5 or 6 times and it keeps getting better and better. U2 continaully reinvents themselves so the sound on "No Line on the Horizon" isn't similar to a lot of U2 songs, although a lot of the signature hooks and riffs can be heard. If I had to pinpoint the sound, it reminds me of a lot of early stuff from Boy and October. Anyway, enjoy the video!
I've listened to the album 5 or 6 times and it keeps getting better and better. U2 continaully reinvents themselves so the sound on "No Line on the Horizon" isn't similar to a lot of U2 songs, although a lot of the signature hooks and riffs can be heard. If I had to pinpoint the sound, it reminds me of a lot of early stuff from Boy and October. Anyway, enjoy the video!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Willow Arts Conference 2009
Whatever you might think of Willow Creek, they value the role of the church, and want to train people to lead others and make the church all it can be. I love Bill Hybel's quote, "The local church is the hope of the world." I believe that to the core of my being, and believe we have the best news on earth in the good news of Jesus Christ. So to that end:
We are taking a team of 10 to the Arts Conference this year. I encourage you to check out their website, and if you can make it up to Chicago, it would be worth your time.
http://www.willowcreek.com/events/arts/2009/index.html
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
MLK Day
In honor of MLK day, thought I'd share one of Martin Luther King's quotes.
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."
Friday, January 9, 2009
New Creation
As the New Year begins I want to remind you that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a New Creation.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Do you know what this means? This means that when you follow Jesus, you are a new person. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and guides you. You are not a lowly sinner saved by grace (that's what we used to be), but you are a saint that sometimes sins.
As you begin this New Year, know that you are a New Creation. Know that when you decided to follow Jesus, you took on the following characteristics (compiled by Bob Warren in his Romans study):
• Crucified with Christ
• Not condemned
• Sealed in Him
• Holy and blameless before Him
• Raised up with Christ
• Forgiven
• Justified
• Glorified
• Perfected
• Complete
• In Christ
• Made a saint
• Washed
• Member of God's Household
• Citizen of Heaven
• Holy and beloved
In 2009, live knowing you are a New Creation. In Philippians 3:16, Paul tells us to "live up to what we have already attained." He is saying, you are a new creation, live like it!
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Do you know what this means? This means that when you follow Jesus, you are a new person. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and guides you. You are not a lowly sinner saved by grace (that's what we used to be), but you are a saint that sometimes sins.
As you begin this New Year, know that you are a New Creation. Know that when you decided to follow Jesus, you took on the following characteristics (compiled by Bob Warren in his Romans study):
• Crucified with Christ
• Not condemned
• Sealed in Him
• Holy and blameless before Him
• Raised up with Christ
• Forgiven
• Justified
• Glorified
• Perfected
• Complete
• In Christ
• Made a saint
• Washed
• Member of God's Household
• Citizen of Heaven
• Holy and beloved
In 2009, live knowing you are a New Creation. In Philippians 3:16, Paul tells us to "live up to what we have already attained." He is saying, you are a new creation, live like it!
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