Song of the Week (09.30.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

This week's song is called "Fullness of God," and it comes from a church in Austin, TX called Austin City Life. ACL recently released a 6-song EP called One, with song contributions from each of their three regular worship leaders.

I love their description of the song's origin and meaning:

Fullness of God is a song inspired by Colossians 1:15-23, which richly explains the preeminence of Jesus Christ. It is a song of worship to the person of Jesus who, surpassing all others, was fully man and fully God, reconciling us to Himself through His cross to make us blameless before him. Because of His supreme deity and redeeming love, we sing and proclaim that He is "above all" and cling to Him, our "hope of glory."

This song was originally written during a sermon series on Colossians at Austin City Life, where we spent three four weeks working out the lordship of Christ in these verses. Almost every time we sing this song we are powerfully confronted by the beauty and power of King Jesus.

Colossians 1:15-23 is a magnificent passage on the glory of Jesus. Read it, and listen to this song. I hope you'll be "powerfully confronted by the beauty and power of King Jesus" as well.

(full song can be heard here, and can be purchased from Amazon and iTunes)

Fullness of God
by Jordan Whitmore

The very image of the invisible God
You were here before all creation
And by your hands we were made
And we see you today
Through the things your hands hold together

In you all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell forever
Through you we are reconciled, by the blood of your cross

So we sing to the name above all:
The name of Jesus, the name by which we are saved
So we sing to the King above all, King Jesus
You are worthy of all praise, so we sing to you

We were once far away from the reality of grace
Sinners estranged from our Father
But in love you came to take away our shame
And to present us as clean sons and daughters

In you all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell forever
Through you we are reconciled, by the blood of your cross

So we sing to the name above all:
The name of Jesus, the name by which we are saved
So we sing to the King above all, King Jesus
You are worthy of all praise, so we sing to you

We’ll cling to the hope of glory proclaimed in all the earth

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

By: Will Savell

I was studying today and ran across a great illustration having to do with worship, which is the essence of our life in Christ. I thought I would pass it along.

There is a story told of a concert pianist by the name of Paderewski, who was doing a concert and had not come out yet to begin. A young boy slipped away from his mother and went up to the stage where this concert grand piano was and started playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." The crowd was pretty upset. What mother would bring a child to this very formal, highbrow event and then to let him slip away and go up and ruin the evening by playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"? Well, this great concert pianist comes out from behind the curtain and motions to the crowd. He comes up and puts his arms around the little boy and says, "Keep playing," and plays this grand and beautiful counter-melody to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," to the standing ovation of the crowd. And I am sure when the crowd went home, they didn't talk about the other songs that the pianist played that night.

Most of us think that our approach to worship is like the concert pianist. Well, I have news for us. Our worship is like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Now, play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with all your might, with as much excellence as you can, but recognize that the only reason that the equivalent of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in our praise to God is acceptable to the Father is because of our older Brother. Jesus comes and wraps His arms around us and plays the grand and beautiful melody and counter-melody that perfects it and enriches it and makes it pleasing to our Father's ears.

Two Rebukes

By: Russell Jeffares

Have you ever been rebuked? Put in your place? No one likes it, but it happens sometimes for good reason. The Apostle Peter experienced rebuke at least two times that we know of: one by Jesus himself, and the other by the Apostle Paul.

In Matthew 16, Peter makes the great confession that Jesus is indeed the “Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Then Jesus tells this disciple that he will suffer and die at the hands of the religious leaders. Peter actually rebukes Jesus for speaking this way, but Jesus responds, “Get behind me Satan… For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Then in Galatians 2:11-14, Paul rebukes Peter again. This time it is because Peter chose to disassociate himself from the non-Jewish believers once the Jewish believers arrived in town. Paul notices this and blasts Peter for his apparent hypocrisy.

So what do these two rebukes have in common? I would say that they are, in essence, the same rebuke. Jesus reprimands Peter for having the mind of man and not realizing that the way of the cross includes suffering and dying. Paul does the same. Peter, for whatever reason (probably his reputation), chooses to abandon the way of the cross by not living out its implications in his relationships.

You see, the “way of the cross” (the Gospel) demands that we live out its implications fully throughout every aspect of our lives. In Matthew 16, Peter desired for Jesus to follow the way of man using power, self-reliant means and sufficiency. In Galatians, Peter abandoned the implications of his justification by seeking his righteousness and approval by means of “another Gospel.” One author wrote:

If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the Gospel. And I don’t mean passionate about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the Gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life.” (C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life, 15)

We’re pretty good about understanding the cross as the means of forgiveness for sins and for personal salvation, but we often leave it behind when it comes to our lifestyles, how we do business, how we relate to others, how we spent our money, etc.

May we stand rebuked by how we so easily abandon the way of the cross, and may we -- in an act of repentance -- go running into the arms of our heavenly Father who will help us do this.

Shots Hurt

By: Will Savell

I was able to sleep an extra hour this morning, and it was great! What wasn't so great was the reason I had for sleeping in. My daughter wasn't going to school - at least until mid-morning. She first had to visit her pediatrician for the annual flu shot.

My wife and I kept this small detail from her this past week because we knew what the reaction was going to be, and boy were we right. When we sprung the news on her this morning, the tears started to flow and they never stopped... no matter what sort of rational thought I laid before her. It's funny how that never works on a five year old girl.

When we arrived at the doctor's office she was somewhat subdued, yet still crying. But when the needle was revealed, she went crazy. The screams were ear piercing and nothing had even happened. Finally, the needle went in and came back out - the small hole to be quickly covered with a band aid.

Five minutes later we were in the Jeep on our way to McDonald's for a sausage biscuit. I have found that the teaching opportunities are endless while riding around in the Jeep. Emma looked at me, eyes still puffy and red, and asked, "Daddy, do all shots hurt?" And there was my moment...

"Yes Emma, all shots hurt. Some hurt worse than others, but it's never fun having a needle poked in your skin. But they only hurt for just a little while."

"But Daddy, why do we have to have shots?"

"You got that shot so you won't get sick. You see, a little pain now is much better than a lot of pain later. Do you understand?"

"Yes Daddy."

For the next few minutes I explained to her, in the best way that I could, a lasting truth about those things that seem so painful to those in Christ. I paraphrased Hebrews 12. For you, I'll give you some of the actual verses.

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons...If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons...For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness...For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:4-11)

My daughter learned today that all shots hurt. Yet even though they hurt, and even among her tears, she can view them as something good.

For those found as a son or daughter of God, you'll go through His discipline. And just like a shot, it hurts and you might cry. But take heart, it's a good thing.

Get Engaged

By: Johnathan Todd

A challenge from our pastor, Dr. Jimmy Young.

Song of the Week (09.23.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

This Sunday morning, we'll be learning a new song together at Grace Evan. It's really an old song made new -- one of my all-time favorite hymns, "Man of Sorrows, What a Name," with an added chorus and a new tune. The result is called "What a Savior," and it's the Song of the Week, so you can get a head start on learning it before we sing it together on Sunday.

You may recognize it when you hear it. Beth Bittner sang it in our worship services back in July, and not only did many of you immediately email me about getting the recording, but it was suggested publicly that Beth needs to get an agent.

While that's probably true, it's the song that I'd like to focus on here. Written by Devon Kauflin (with original hymn text by Phillip Bliss), the song was intended to be sung in corporate worship. It's a great worship song because it combines rich, cross-centered truth with a heart-cry of praise and rejoicing in response. And it doesn't hurt that the tune is immediately singable.

So here's a way to get ready for Sunday's worship service, both learning a new song AND preparing your mind and heart with the gospel. Click the button below to listen, or download it for FREE by right-clicking the song title and choosing "save as" (or "download as").

What a Savior
Verses by Phillip Bliss (1875)
Music and chorus by Devon Kauflin

Man of Sorrows, what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim, hallelujah!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Savior, You showed Your love
Defeated our sin, poured out Your blood
So we praise You, Lamb that was slain
We offer our lives to proclaim:
What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full atonement, can it be? Hallelujah!

Lifted up was He to die
“It is finished” was His cry
Now in heav’n exalted high
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Savior, You showed Your love
Defeated our sin, poured out Your blood
So we praise You, Lamb that was slain
We offer our lives to proclaim:
What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King
All His ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we’ll sing
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Savior, You showed Your love
Defeated our sin, poured out Your blood
So we praise You, Lamb that was slain
We offer our lives to proclaim:
What a Savior!

Am I Really That Bad?

By: Russell Jeffares

Imagine this scene with me: My wife comes to me and says, “I forgive you.” My immediate response is (with an awkward face), “Why?” For all I know, I have no need to be forgiven. So her statement makes very little sense.

I believe this is how many respond to the typical Gospel presentation, “Jesus loves you and died to forgive you.” In response many think, “So what?” Then we're left trying to convince them how sinful they really are. John Ensor is correct in saying:

In terms of the Gospel … It seems to scratch where we feel no itch. It offers as a matter of first importance what we consider the least concern--God's forgiveness, reconciliation, and a new life through the life and work of Jesus Christ. (The Great Work of the Gospel, p. 21)

In order to receive the Gospel, we must first realize the enormity of our sin. Ensor also points out that, as we read God’s word, we find a shocking discovery:

The wrath of God revealed in the Bible is so terrible, so fierce, so awful, that it forces us to reach a shocking conclusion: either our sin and guilt is far, far greater than we ever knew, or God’s punishment far, far exceeds the crime. ... If we conclude that God is just and believe that his punishments always fit the crime, then we will have made the frightful discovery of what the old preachers called "the exceeding sinfulness of sin." (The Great Work of the Gospel, pp. 46-47)

But we must ask ourselves. Are we really that bad? Are we really that sinful? Well, the Bible seems to think so. The prophet Jeremiah summarized the nature of Israel’s sin before God like this:

… for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)

So the essence of sin is 1) we have rejected God (Creator) as our source, and 2) have turned to other things (creation) as our source. In other words, we first of all reject our Creator, Father, and Spouse (all images of our relationship to God) in an act of rebellion, betrayal, and adultery. And we have turned to any number of other sources in replacement of God. There is no small rebellion, betrayal, or adultery. So the slightest of our sin stands infinitely egregious. As one Puritan put it, "... the heinousness of sin lies not so much in the nature the sin committed, as in the greatness of the Person sinned against."

The nature of sin is that we make a million false gods or “functional saviors” in order to replace God. Even the best things in this life (sex, relationships, love, ministry, etc.) can be turned into a new source.

This means that I must live a life of constant repentance. It means repenting of my sinful acts. It means repenting of my “goodness.” It means constantly turning back to the true Source of life, joy, and everlasting satisfaction.

Because yes, I am that bad.

Passing God's Tests

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

Character is both built and revealed by tests.

What amazes me is the nature of some of the God-sent tests. Who would want Abraham’s? Go sacrifice your son (Gen. 22:1)! What could be harder?

But even more perplexing than that, for me, is God’s willingness to allow the wicked to do big, splashy things with the intent of testing His people (Deut. 13:1-4). God grants or permits even miraculous power to false prophets in order to test folks like you and me. That’s one scary test! Passing the test requires a diligent application of all we know of God to all that is facing us.

Knowing the true God helps me spot the false one. I think I’ll go study some more...

The End of the Rope

By: Russell Jeffares

Have you ever been to that place that everyone dreads and seeks to avoid? I’m speaking of coming to the complete end of yourself. It’s sometimes called “wit's end,” “the end of the rope,” “hitting bottom,” or “hanging by a thread.” David called it “the valley of the shadow of death.” It’s a place of utter desperation in which our own personal sufficiency isn’t quite enough.

The good/bad news, however, is that God loves it when we are at that place. I don’t mean to say that God is maliciously enjoying our suffering. Rather, I believe God’s heart breaks when we are there, but he also knows how much we need it.

The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to be there. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul says:

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death."

Now listen to what Paul is saying here. They had come to the end of their rope. It was the end. They “despaired of life itself.” Paul, the Apostle no less, had come to that dark valley of death that the Psalmist writes about. But it was not a meaningless circumstance orchestrated by a vicious God. Paul knew that God had a purpose. He finishes out verse 9 by saying, “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”

Paul knew that God needed them to come to that extremely difficult place of despair. Why? So that they we rely on the God who raises the dead! So that they would cease relying on their own assets and begin to rely on the God who is able to do the impossible … even raise the dead.

Many of us are, have been, and will be at that place of hopelessness and desolation, but may we through these excruciating times rely on the God who raises the dead.

Song of the Week (09.16.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

The song of the week is a new one from Sovereign Grace Music called "Completely Done." (Click the song title for a FREE mp3 download, or go here to hear a sample and check out the rest of the album.)

The message is clear: Fear, worry, doubt, and condemnation are driven out by the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ. Who he is, what he has done, and what he is continuing to do are our only confidence and refuge.

Through the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit gave these glorious truths (all referenced in the song) for our confidence and hope:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. - Romans 8:1

May you live daily in light of this: "We’re heirs with Christ, the victory won/What You complete is completely done."

Completely Done

What reason have I to doubt
Why would I dwell in fear
When all I have known is grace
My future in Christ is clear

My sins have been paid in full
There’s no condemnation here
I live in the good of this
My Father has brought me near
I’m leaving my fears behind me now

The old is gone, the new has come
What You complete is completely done
We’re heirs with Christ, the victory won
What You complete is completely done

I don’t know what lies ahead
What if I fail again
You are my confidence
You’ll keep me to the end
I’m leaving my fears behind me now

The old is gone, the new has come
What You complete is completely done
We’re heirs with Christ, the victory won
What You complete is completely done


written by Jonathan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Rich Gunderlock
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

The Most Influential People in the World

By: Johnny Coggin

Who are the most influential people in the world? Presidents and kings? CEOs? Athletes? Hollywood actors and recording artists? Maybe pastors or missionaries?

Here's an answer offered by pastor John Piper this morning:

"The most influential people in the world are those who pray big in Jesus' name. The second most influential are mothers."

Many of you fall into that #2 spot. And guess what: Every single one of us can be #1.

Be encouraged, and be boldly influential in this world.

God’s World Mission

By: Will Savell

I'm currently taking a class called God's World Mission, and something that my professor said really stuck out to me about the book of Romans and God's purpose. I thought I would share it here, hopefully serving as an encouragement about what God has done and is continuing to do all over the world.

"God has His great plan to redeem all peoples, and He has gathered us up into His plan. That is God's world mission. In Romans, Paul does not simply write a detailed theological treatise. He wants to get those Jews and Gentiles to be able to live together within the church there. He says God has called them from among the nations. Those who thought that because they were Jews they had a market on knowing who God was, He is the God of Jews and Gentiles alike. It is not just the ones who have been given the Law; it is the ones who do the Law who are saved. But no one obeys the Law perfectly. It is by faith alone that Jew and Gentile alike are saved. Paul says this very explicitly in Romans 3. God is the God of all peoples, and there is only one God. Therefore all are saved by faith alone.

Paul talks about all sorts of people in Romans. We have been justified, both Jew and Gentile alike. This was a remarkable, revolutionary statement that the Judaizers hated. We are justified and saved together by faith alone. All of creation longs to see this full redemption of the people of God, Paul says in Romans 8. Historically this is what we have seen happen with the children of Israel, but God has not left the others alone. I am an example of someone who has come into the faith. Those of you who are Gentiles have been grafted in, and together we are the Israel of God. That is the way Israel is saved, as it says in Romans 9-11. How we live together is from Romans 12 on. When you get to Romans 15, Paul talks about how God has been at work in this way as we see and the prophet Isaiah foretold.

One voice, Jew and Gentile together, can worship God. To me that is what the book of Romans is all about. Justification by faith highlights the fact that all of us together receive the good news of Jesus Christ. There is no advantage that anyone has ethnically, and there is no disadvantage either. It is all by faith alone. It seems to be very clear in Romans, Ephesians, and throughout the Scriptures that God's world mission burst forth."

-Nelson Jennings

The CV (Curriculum Vitae) of God’s Man

By: Russell Jeffares

Like most people, I’ve grown up with the notion that greatness is determined by the measure of success an individual has experienced. Indeed, when interviewing for jobs we tend to tout our past victories and positive experiences, quite intentionally leaving out those areas that might be weakness.

But what astounds me over and over again is this: The men God has used most profoundly are those who have been served a big dose of failure.

Here are three of the most well-known leaders in the Bible who were used by God after great failure:

1) Moses—murdered a man and fled for his life
2) David—committed adultery and then murder to cover it up
3) Peter—rebuked Jesus to his face and later denied him three times

Then there’s Paul, who was notorious for his persecution of the early church before his conversion. What is most interesting is Paul’s own take on why God chose him as a leader:

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. … 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Tim. 1:12-13, 16)

Paul states that the very reason God chose him to service was because he is the “foremost of sinners” (v. 15). God chose Moses, David, Peter, and Paul for service because they had experienced enough failure to position them as agents of grace.

I once heard Sinclair Ferguson say that when his church hires staff, they always inquire where that person has been broken. This is because they will not hire someone for the ministry that has not experienced some measure of failure and brokenness.

I believe that as Christians, we need to reconsider the role of failure in our lives to shape us into tools worthy of God’s service.

Longing for Humility

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

Moses is described in one place as “very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3). The meekest man in the world…what a reputation, and one I long to have but have yet to establish.

In fact, is there any one who would describe me as meek? I doubt it, and that I regret. I long to be a humble man, knowing that God resists pride, but grants grace to the humble. And any one who has tasted grace wants more of it.

I also know that the Bible commands me to "humble myself," and sadly, I’m not really sure how that is done. I have some hunches, but that is about all.

But there is one part of humility I’m sure about. Late in Moses’ life, he complains about not being able to enter the Promised Land, and asks God if he can make a brief visit (Deut. 3:23-25). God says no, and tells him, “Enough from you…” Amazingly, that’s the last time Moses mentions his desire.

Thus, one thing humility is… a quick yieldedness to the instructions of God, even when they go against the desires of my heart. I drag my restless heart to the place of sweet submission to a God that I know is good.

It’s not all that humility requires, but it is a good start.

Song of the Week (09.09.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

...and now for something completely different:

You would never have guessed it, and neither would I, but today's featured song is from the genre cherished by so many of you, I'm sure: Hip-Hop. Also known as Rap. Yes, you read that right.

The song of the week is called "Don't Waste Your Life" by Lecrae, a rapper who was radically changed by Jesus at age 19, and almost immediately began using his talents to preach the gospel to anyone who would listen. Now, several years later, he's becoming more well-known, and his message is being heard all over the U.S. and the world. His latest album debuted at #3 on the iTunes rap charts. Not bad.

And Lecrae's the real deal, folks. Not only has he been partnering with the ministries of guys like John Piper and Mark Driscoll, but he spends much of his energy trying to reach misguided, lost urban youth with the gospel. And that includes those right here in Memphis, where he himself resides.

The lyrics to today's song are so abundant that I'm not even going to print them all here. Besides, they're shown in real time in the music video below. But if you're not sure about the gospel message being set to rap music, catch this excerpt from the last verse (regarding people chasing the American Dream):

But guess what - they didn't ever really live at all
To live is Christ, yeah that's Paul, I recall
To die is gain, so for Christ we give it all
He's the treasure you'll never find in the mall

See your money, your singleness, marriage, talent and time
They were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine

That's a message we all need to hear, and Lecrae is hitting a specific demographic with that message... and in full force. May God continue to empower him and bear much fruit for Christ through him.

You can check out more Lecrae at Amazon or iTunes, and watch the video below (or click here to view it)

Reggie and the Cuban

By: Jeff Simons

This Summer we had our first mission trip to Honduras, doing evangelism through basketball. I never would have dreamed that on our return to Memphis, a coup would arise in Honduras. The last one occurred in Central America 15 years ago.

Two coaches from Honduras assisted us in the clinics this year and we called them Reggie and The Cuban. Reggie, originally from Panama, had played against Michael Jordan and Larry Bird in a pre-Olympic Basketball game years ago. Gentle and teachable, he quickly learned the fundamentals we were teaching, and relationships developed between Reggie and our coaches. On the second day, when Floyd (one of our volunteer coaches) was leading the campers in the sinner's prayer following the presentation of the Gospel, I observed an amazing sight. Reggie had jumped to his feet and with high volume was following Floyd in the sinner's prayer. Of course we know a prayer can’t save you, but all the coaches would challenge anyone who did not believe God had called Reggie to salvation before our very eyes. The Cuban was a 69 year old veteran basketball coach who had escaped communism in Cuba to become a youth coach in Honduras. He had a deep bass voice and the campers had a deep admiration for his coaching style.

After Reggie’s conversion we had given him a Bible, and imagine my amazement when on the last day, The Cuban asked for a Bible. Through an interpreter, he stated "I have never been told in my entire life I am a sinner in need of a Savior." What a joy to realize The Cuban too had embraced the Savior. There were tears all around our coaches and Reggie and The Cuban as we departed the Coliseum the last day.

Campus Crusade for Christ has both Reggie and The Cuban in discipleship classes in Tegucigalpa. What a joy to await observation of their spiritual growth next summer and to think God could take a sport like basketball as a catalyst to bring two men to faith in Christ.

Wanted

By: Russell Jeffares

I didn’t really support any political candidate during the last presidential election, but I wish I had. I recently saw a video testimony by Mike Huckabee on the website www.iamsecond.com (click to view). Though I don’t necessarily agree with all his opinions, I wish we had a guy like this in our nation’s highest office. In this video, Huckabee affirms that his life is defined by his relationship with Christ, not his political success. He states:

"Following Jesus doesn’t mean that I’m following him to the Whitehouse or following him to the governor’s mansion or following him to do television. No, I’m following him to be with him. Then wherever it is he puts me or places me, my real job is not to be the Governor or President or a television personality. My job is to somehow be that person that God has created me to be and to have influence on the world wherever he has placed me. It doesn’t matter where that is. And when I fulfill that, there is real joy."

In a time when greedy ambition, crass hypocrisy, and political double talk seem to rule the day, we need more men who live out this Christ-centered conviction. We need men who are committed to Jesus over their political careers. We need men who are transformed by the gospel and ever aware of their need for Christ.

It is my prayer that God will raise up more men who live out the gospel to engage the political sphere of our country.

Song of the Week (09.02.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

If you haven't heard the music of Matt Papa, I'd like to change that today. Not because he's a musical virtuoso, or because he's a supremely praiseworthy guy - though he may just be those things.

Rather, I want you to hear the words that are pouring out of this guy.

Don't get me wrong - his music is fantastic. In fact, I'd say his latest album, Your Kingdom Come, is quite possibly my favorite album of this entire year. And no, I don't mean of all Christian music this year. I mean favorite. Period.

His style ranges from full-on, driving rock to simple, melodic piano-based hymns. But regardless of the musical genre, one thing is constant in Matt Papa's music: His lyrics are incredibly raw, honest, biblical, passionate, God-glorifying, and - get this - convicting. To be honest, he reminds a lot of a certain Keith Green.

On Your Kingdom Come, there's a theme that's quite evident, and it's very appropriate for those of us at Grace Evan as we're leading up to our Mission Conference later this month. The theme is, unsurprisingly, God's Kingdom, both his reign over the earth and our involvement in it. And that's where it gets convicting. (Just read the lyrics below.)

You can hear the Song of the Week, "Here Am I, Send Me" at Matt Papa's MySpace page, along with several other tracks. But I'd strongly encourage you to check out the full album at iTunes (hey, 19 tracks for only $9.99 is a steal). It's also at Amazon, though they're missing one song at the end.

Here Am I, Send Me
by Matt Papa

Gen 12:1, Isaiah 6:1-8, Rom 12:1

Lord, here am I, won't You send me to
The broken and the weak
To the desperate and forgotten, Lord
I'm giving You everything
All my selfish plans, my greedy hands
My hope in the American dream
Lord, I give my life, lay down my pride
I'm giving You everything, God

Here am I, send me
I’ll follow wherever You lead
I will tell the world that Jesus is the way
Send me, Lord, here I am
I offer my dreams, my plans
I will give my life a living sacrifice
Lord, here I am

I can see You, Lord, upon Your throne
You're high and You're lifted up
All the angels singing, “Holy, Holy”
I'm broken and undone
Now an angel comes to touch my lips
Says your sins are all taken away
Jesus paid the price, yeah He gave His life
So, Father, hear Your people say

Here am I, send me
I’ll follow wherever You lead
I will tell the world that Jesus is the way
Send me, Lord, here I am
I offer my dreams, my plans
I will give my life a living sacrifice
Lord, here I am

Whom shall I send?
Who will go for us?
Whom shall I send?

Pastor in Passing: Jim Umlauf (09.01.09)

By: Johnny Coggin

"Pastor in Passing" is a new video segment in which any given pastor at Grace Evan is asked to answer a random question in passing with no warning. Could be about the Bible, God, their life, advice they might give, or even "what's your favorite ______."

The purpose is three-fold: (1) to give a little window into the minds of your pastors, (2) to give some pastoral encouragement and insight, and (3) to keep the staff on our toes.

Plus, it might just be kinda fun.

Here's the first "Pastor in Passing" video: Jim Umlauf on God's blessings in marriage.