The Place of God's People

By: Johnny Coggin        

Missional John Calvin:

"Calvin so believed in the importance of the everyday activities of Christian life and mission that he had a strange but telling practice in Geneva. He was eager to see Jesus' church gathered on Sundays, but he was not happy for his flock to retreat from everyday life and hide within the walls of the church during the week. So to prod his congregants to be fully engaged in their city of Geneva -- in their families, in their jobs, with their neighbors and coworkers -- he locked the church doors during the week. It must have been hard not to get the point. He knew the place of God's people -- gathered together to worship on Sunday, but during the week not hidden away behind thick walls of separation, but on mission together in God's world, laboring to bring the gospel to metro Geneva in their words and actions, in all their roles and relationships."

-- David Mathis, in the "Introduction" With Calvin in the Theater of God (p. 23)

(via Jared Wilson)

The Bone & Marrow of Biblical Worship

By: Dr. Jimmy Young       

I ran across a quote that I want to mention: “Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship.”  I couldn’t agree more.

Your church can’t do anything about people’s affections, but you should hold your church accountable for the way truth is offered and truth is handled.  All of life is theological and we get ourselves into messes because we have wacky views of God.  So, if you are being starved for truth, run. 

I love this story found in a Steve Brown book (No More Mr. Nice Guy, p.168):

Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, a former pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, offered a question and answer session on most Wednesday evenings.  One evening a woman raised her hand and said, "Dr. Barnhouse, I attend a church where the pastor doesn’t believe in the Virgin Birth or the Resurrection… What should I do?"  Those who were there said that Dr. Barnhouse took off his glasses and in total seriousness said, "Madam, you should pray that he die.”  

Call me what you will… I agree.

12 Reasons for Christmas

By: Morgan Martin      

As I'm in the midst of the hustle of the holidays, I want to slow down and remember what Christmas is really all about. 

What better guide than God's Word? (via John Piper):

1. "For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth" (John 18:37).
2. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8; cf. Hebrews 2:14-15).
3. "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).
4. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).
5. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
6. "God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:5).
7. "For God so loved the world that whoever believes on him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16).
8. "God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9).
9. "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
10. "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against . . . that the thoughts of many may be revealed" (Luke 2:34ff).
11. "He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18).
12. "Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:7-8; cf. John 12:27ff)."

Men at Work

By: John Ottley      

Every Tuesday morning, nine Grace Evan guys gather in a boardroom at Dr. Cattau’s office on Wolf River Blvd.  After we talk for a while, someone, tongue in cheek, asks, “Has it come to this?”  Then we pray.  We don’t understand how it all works.  We just know God wants us to pray.

Soviet dissident Andrei Sinyavsky, (pseudonym Abram Tertz), wrote a book called A Voice from The Chorus.  It’s based on letters he wrote to his wife while he was in a forced-labor camp after being arrested by the KGB in the 60’s.  During his imprisonment Sinyavski/Tertz recorded random snatches of prisoners’ conversations --“the chorus"--   and added them to his own reflections.  Sinyavsky’s “Voice from the Chorus” inspired me to set down some of the things I’ve heard during our prayer time.

• Most gracious Heavenly Father, gracious you are and gracious you have been.
• Lord, here we are.  We come before you as nine sinful men looking for grace.
• Our Father, we are so privileged to be called sons of God.
• Lord, we thank you for who You are and whose we are.
• Lord, we know who You are and what You’ve done, and who we are and what we’ve done.
• Thank You for Your Word.  You give us something to hold on to… something to cover every aspect of life.
• Lord, we love You and love Your plan.  We deserve wrath but you gave us mercy!
• Help us not to take things for granted.  I’m the King of taking things for granted.
• I wish I could express my gratitude for all You’ve done.
• Thank you for our health and some money in our pockets.  Thank You, thank You, thank You!
• You can unscramble eggs, Lord.  We can’t but You can.
• Thy will be done, dear Lord.  Thy will be done.
• We know the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We ask for the “much availing.”
• Our prayers know no miles.  You inhabit the praises of Your people.

Feel free to add your request to our list!  There are prayer request forms in every pew or you can call the Grace Evan office at 901-756-7444.

Nothing Heavier Than a Coffee Cup

By: Kim Killebrew        

The week before Thanksgiving, I found out that I needed back surgery.  A bulging disc in my lower back had been causing sciatic nerve pain for about a year.  Within a few days, I was in and out of surgery.  It was a tremendous blessing, but the Lord’s blessing did not stop there.  The day before my surgery, our house sold.  We were now scheduled to move within the month.  God’s timing is always surprising. There are few things that can tame my tongue and humble my spirit on most days.  However, being the recipient of a completely generous and selfless act did have some success.  In my recovery from surgery, the doctor said to lift nothing heavier than a coffee cup.  Well, as you sip your coffee right now, you know that everything is heavier than a coffee cup.  So, to say that my activity was limited is a major understatement.  The problem was that while my body needed to heal, I needed to pack.  That was not an option for me.    

The second week of my recovery, my mother-in-law took over duty as guardian of the weak.  Not being one to just hang out, she requested boxes so she could begin packing for us.  Let me tell you: I’ve never seen anything quite like it.  She destroyed my idea of “worker bee.”  She worked 12-15 hours for five straight days and single-handedly packed 90% of our home.  She packed the kids' rooms, the bathrooms, and broke down beds.  She even packed the attic.  She not only packed the attic, but also moved every box down two flights of stairs.  It was amazing. 

All I did was sit and watch.  That’s all I could do.  The understanding of chronic pain and the possibility of undoing the gift of a surgeon’s handiwork glued me to my bed and sofa.  But God’s grace shut my mouth and sprang forth a fountain of gratitude in my heart.  I was completely humbled by the unselfish gift of my mother-in-law.  I can’t imagine being willing to pack someone else’s home for them.  It is an enormous, exhausting, and at times disgusting job (someone else’s dirt and clutter is always worse than your own).  But, she did it.  She gave of herself most generously.  All I could do was sit and say “thank you.”

Oh, what a lovely picture of Christ!  I am grateful to be a Christian - saved from my sin.  But how often am I really humbled by Christ’s great and selfless act?  How often am I struck by my own inadequacy to save myself from the depth of the wickedness inside of me?  Far less often than I care to admit even to myself.  My self-sufficiency creeps in daily as I go about my business of doing and working and accomplishing.  I forget what he has done.  I forget what I’ve been saved from and who I’ve been saved for.  I forget until moments of his grace humble me and gently remind me that salvation is a gift of faith, not of works.

I am so grateful to my mother-in-law who gave such a priceless gift of unselfishness to me.  I hope that I will never forget it.  But even more than that, I am so thankful that for a moment I had a more clear understanding of my inadequacy and the great, selfless gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.  Oh how I look forward to a glorified state when I will spend all my days in humble praise before his throne!  Until then, I will remember this time of lifting nothing heavier than a coffee cup.

The Door of Hope

By: Dr. Jimmy Young      

Somebody once said something like this (how’s that for ambiguity?):  “Man can live for three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without air, but he can’t live fifteen seconds without hope.”  Granted, that may not be the exact quote, but you get the point: When and if you lose hope, you’re a goner.

That’s why I love the whole idea of repentance… every piece of it.  Mind you, I didn’t say penance.  Don’t get those two things confused.  I see hope and repentance as joined at the hip.

A great illustration of that can be found in Ezra 10.  Here’s the story.  Israel had done it again - they had sinned by marrying foreign women.  Once discovered, Ezra, the priest, is beside himself.  He prays (in chapter 9), and when the people overhear him, they too are overcome.  A guy by the name of Shecaniah steps up (in vs. 2) and agrees with Ezra that the people have “blown it.”  But then notice what he goes on to say:  “…but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.”  In the following three verses, Shecaniah outlines what must be done.  Israel must repent by putting away the foreign women.

Their hope lies in their repentance.  That’s what repentance does… it gives me a fresh start.  Consequences (of my sin) may still await me.  But my sin is done, and hope is restored.  Repentance is not an ugly word; it is a door of hope.

The God Who Restores

By: Jim Umlauf      

Guilt can be crippling. I’ve seen people drag it around for decades, even after embracing the forgiveness afforded by the cross. Maturing as a Christian adds its own complexity because the more deeply we understand who God is, the more thoroughly we realize the inclination and capabilities of our own hearts. The growing believer sees someone suffer the effects of a given sin and quickly notes that “it could easily be me.”

Remember that ours is a restorative God. And he is unchanging. When he promises to accomplish something, he cannot begin it without completing it. That’s good news for the aching soul. Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ, not even (especially) you.

Take time to reflect on these words from Micah 7, after God had given a prosperous, teetering Judah severe warning (“...behold, the LORD is coming out of his place… her wound is incurable and it has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.”):

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger for ever,
because he delights in steadfast love
He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.

Stopped in My Tracks

By: Dr. Jimmy Young      

Guys, I’m a preacher.  I hope you’ve noticed.  As such, because I read a lot, I am often confronted with stuff that stops me in my tracks.  Here's one such quote:

"Their testimony and the fragrance of their lives comes down to this day.  Their pulpit oratory came from their hearts, and from the reality of living near to God.  They themselves loved the Savior whom they preached and hated the sin against which they warned.  Personal religion, with devotion to Scripture and to prayer occupied a great part of their lives.  Payson’s testimony is representative of them all:  'I was never fit to say a word to a sinner, except when I had a broken heart myself, when I was subdued and melted into penitence, and felt as though I had just received pardon to my own soul, and when my heart was full of tenderness and pity.'"

Sobering, huh?

Are You Hungry & Thirsty?

By: Scott Elliott      

Working in the sports field and being around a lot of young kids and teenagers, I often find myself making the comment to parents that I wish I still had the energy that these kids possess. They seem to be able to run for hours without getting too worked up or tired. Me, not so much.

As an Athletic Director and one who should promote a healthy lifestyle, I feel I should lead by example in taking care of my body physically. I do try to workout at least 2-3 days a week to keep in shape and, if nothing else, keep my heart in check. As I tell the kids, we all shouldn’t neglect the physical gifts that God has given us.

The same regular training that is required of us physically should also be applied to our spiritual training! Our spiritual souls need daily toning and strengthening and nourishment too if they are to survive and grow. If we don’t feed our spiritual soul (like we do our physical body) then it too will grow weak and fade away.

A quick look at our society and community will tell you that we surely don’t deprive our physical bodies with the food and drink they need to keep them going. So why do we deprive our spiritual souls of the nourishment it needs? The nourishment from the Word!

The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, not only satisfies and nourishes us but also quenches our hungry and thirsty souls. I don’t know about you but I need to make sure I make it to the “training table” on a regular basis. Filling up on the Word helps to keep us going!

So next time you feed your body, don’t forget about your soul! Get back to training … the body and the soul!

Read:  John 4:13-14;  1 Timothy 4:7-10;  2 Timothy 4:7-8

The Gospel is Not Freedom and Democracy

By: Johnathan Todd      

Chinese Christians are not praying for a change in their government. They identify God growing the Chinese Church through the current government and do not wish to change what God has established for His purposes.

These thoughts were shared recently at Grace Evan by our missionary working with Chinese Christians and they reminded me of a Biblical reality:

The gospel is not freedom and democracy.

I am fearful that as North American Christians, the tendency to highlight freedom and democracy as important as the gospel is a real danger. We easily infuse the gospel and our method of government and end up confused regarding what God has established as our hope.

The gospel is Christ crucified and raised.

The hope of the world is the gospel and this is the hope that we are tasked with proclaiming to all the nations. This is the hope we are charged with being prepared to give an account of to all who inquire.

So, I’ll close with the reminder Paul gave the Corinthian Christians: "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Far as the Curse is Found

By: Jim Umlauf      





(if video doesn't show above, click here: Far as the Curse is Found)

What are Your Plans?

By: Erin Pearce        

We all have plans. Whether it is what you want to be when you grow up, where you want to go to college, how many kids you want to have, where you want to live, or even what to do for dinner tonight.

The most recent plans Andy and I have been working on are for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has turned into one of our favorite holidays, because everyone on all sides of our family get together. And it is an extreme blessing how much we all love being around each other. 

Andy just got a phone call yesterday saying he has to leave on a trip this weekend, which most likely means he will not be here for Thanksgiving. As you can imagine, we are very disappointed. This morning, we opened to Proverbs 16 which begins in verse 1 like this: “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” It ends in verse 33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” 

Andy and I just looked at each other and smiled. How great is it that we have a God that is in control of every little thing. Now I realize that being gone for a holiday is not that big of a deal. But even in this situation, I know that the Lord is teaching us that every little plan that doesn’t go our way is still going God’s way. 

May we be encouraged that things are very much in control by a God who is good, faithful, loving, and ready to teach us to rely on Him and trust Him in any and every circumstance.

The Number is 19!

By: Johnathan Todd       


I just counted and the number is 19 – that is, 19 Bibles in my office.

It is an understatement to say that we are richly blessed with God’s Word. We have God’s Word in various English translations from the best linguistic scholars. It would not be an overstatement to say we are spoiled on God’s Word – meaning, we have moved to a point where we take such a gift for granted.

It is estimated that there are 2,000 languages without God’s Word translated.  These 2,000 languages represent approximately 340,000,000 people…people that do not have the privilege to pick up one of 19 copies of God’s Word in my native tongue and read the grandest message available from the Most High God!

Wycliffe Bible Translators and other organizations are working to focus the church on the last languages – check out this video which gives an overview of Bible translation work.

Then take a moment and thank God for 19 Bibles.

Counting and Naming Blessings

By: Jim Umlauf

I know a man going through an exceedingly hard time right now. The challenges are physical, spiritual, and emotional. Last night I heard him pray. “Thank you, Lord…” Over and over it was “Thank you,” and not much of anything else.

We tend to brush away Christian notions, especially if they’re pasted to cloying melodies. But counting your blessings, and literally naming them one by one, is not cliché at all. In fact, we’re commanded to do so in God’s word.

“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

That’s not a helpful hint for better Christian living. God wants us to talk to him about everything and anything. And as we do that, we’re to drench it all in a thankful remembering for what he’s already done and promises to continue to do.

There’s a strange result too.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Why does that bring peace? Because it drives us right back to the person of God. Friend, if God didn’t give up on you in your sin, and spilled his own Son’s blood for your sake, doesn’t it stand to reason that he won’t give up on you now?

Spend some time thanking him in specifics. You may be surprised by peace.

Your Private Life and the Watcher

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

I don’t know of a chapter in Scripture that is more moving to me than Daniel 4. The last verse sends chills up my spine. It, in one sense, is a very dark story. On the other hand, in no place do we find such an exalted statement about God as we find there (v. 34-35).

There are numerous lessons in this chapter, most of which are fairly obvious. I will draw your attention to only one. In verse 13 and then again in verse 23, there is the mention of a “watcher.” Did you know that there is a “watcher”? Did you realize that our choices, our behaviors, our “secret sins and misdeeds dark” are subject to the scrutiny of a “watcher”?

Did you think that what we choose to do in private is unseen? It isn’t!

I think it was Plato who said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” You may agree or disagree. But this much I know, the life of the Christian is lived before “the Watcher.” You think about that.

7 Billion!

By: Johnathan Todd

"And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…' ” - Genesis 1:28

It is estimated that we recently reached a population of 7 billion people on earth. Now of interest is the fact that we reached 1 billion in 1804, so in the past 207 years, we have multiplied. This video attempts to identify the why behind the multiplication.

The Priceless Gift of Proclaimed Truth

By: Erin Pearce

This morning I have been very encouraged by reading Ephesians 4:11-16 and by hearing Dr. Young's sermon yesterday.

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. " - Ephesians 4:11-16

I know sometimes I have read this passage and thought, "So if I don't have the teaching gifts listed above, does that mean I do not have an important part in the body?" This morning it has hit home again that we ALL NEED the gifts of teaching in our lives to equip us. Hearing truth should propel us to service and keep us from being deceived. This truth that we hear grounds us and guards us from trickery and deceitful schemes.

As I reflect this morning on the sound teaching we have at Grace Evan, I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit has appointed these men to encourage our souls and warn us of the lies that surround us daily. Although I am encouraged by these verses, I am also saddened that I don't hold this gift of truth with higher value. This truth helps us all to be used to our greatest capacity in the body through the Spirit. This truth is being poured into us week in and week out.

Since we all have a part in the body, how are we using this glorious truth we are receiving to glorify God in the spheres of influence He has specifically given to each of us?

Good Candy or Cheap Candy?

By: Johnathan Todd

What to do, what to do... Halloween is fast approaching, and a decision along with it - cheap candy or the good stuff?!

However, before that decision, another clamors for attention and confronts us everywhere - ought a Christian participate in Halloween? Signs announcing "Trunk or Treat" or "Fall Festival" can be seen regularly, and demonic creatures and emphasis on evil inhabit many aspects of Halloween. So before the candy decision, another demands attention. Here are three thoughts to help you decide.

1. Do not "cartoonize" evil. Evil is real and serious, and Satan utilizes a tactic of reducing our assessment of evil to produce a false mindset. Participating in Halloween by the Christian ought not deemphasize the Biblical warning against evil found in 1 Corinthians 14:20, "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature."

2. Isolation is not Biblical. We are in but not of the world (John 17:14-15). We have a primary task of proclaiming the good news that through Jesus Christ, sinful humanity can possess full forgiveness. When we isolate ourselves, we reduce our ability to proclaim. Whether you "Trunk or Treat" or "Trick or Treat," make sure you are not isolating yourself from neighbors.

3. Having fun is acceptable. Laughing, enjoying, and being creative are all gifts from God. Costumes, candy, parties and traditions ought to be enjoyed and experienced and God should be thanked. Whatever you do this Halloween, thank God for his grace in our lives.

For the record, I'm buying the good candy... and enjoying any leftovers!

Jehoshaphat and the Fear of the Lord

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

Jehoshaphat is a funny name, but don’t let the name fool you. He was one of Judah’s best kings, if not the best. As good as he was, he had a couple of “bad moments.” But I don’t want us to concentrate on those.

There is much that he did that was laudable (II Chronicles 17-20). One thing in particular I want to draw your attention to. It’s in II Chronicles 19:4-11.

As king, Jehoshaphat was concerned about justice being administered in his kingdom. To that end he appointed judges in the land (vs.5). Notice the exhortation he gives to these appointees in verses 6 & 9. He tells them twice that their judgments should be given “in the fear of the Lord.”

He knew that the only thing that would steer men correctly was the knowledge that all of their private moments were being observed by a God who has an inflexible hatred of sin. So, in my judgments, in my decisions, in my choices, I must keep one eye cut toward heaven, knowing that although I may get away with things before men, there is a God before whom I must stand.

I bet you’ve heard of this definition of character: “character is who you are when no one is watching.” Dear ones, know this: There is a God in heaven, who scrutinizes our ways. That’s what I think the Bible means when it calls me to walk “in the fear of the Lord”: That God knows where real character can be found.

Do you know the way to San Jose? (How ‘bout Birmingham?)

By: John Ottley

Kathleen and I recently made our maiden voyage from Memphis to Atlanta for my Dad’s 80th birthday. We drove. When we mentioned this to our new friend, Beth Gurner, she offered to give us directions to Birmingham, including two shortcuts, that would save us a half hour or more. She’s got grandchildren in Birmingham so she drives there every chance she gets. As it turned out, she returned to Memphis the day we were leaving, made detailed notes of the route and emailed the directions to me.

We left at sundown and were going to get to Atlanta six hours later so we were glad for the shortcuts and did NOT want to waste any time getting lost. So, even with our GPS, we paid close attention to Beth’s directions-- even the right turn on the indiscrete road that was VERY EASY TO MISS just past the "Royal Church Chapel" just before a big green road sign… that says Corinth and Olive Branch on it, about 8.5 miles out Highway 72. We also drove the speed limit (on this stretch anyway) because she warned us: DURING THIS STRETCH, YOU WILL WANT TO WATCH THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS CAREFULLY. CHANGES FROM 40 TO 50 TO 55… DO THE SAME WHEN YOU RETURN. LOTS OF TICKETS GIVEN HERE.

Someone who’d “been there and done that” countless times told us how to get where we wanted to go. We followed her directions closely and got to Birmingham with nary a wrong turn.

I know life doesn’t always work this way. I know we can learn good lessons from losing our way but… we have been given some very clear “directions” by One who claimed to be The Way. Who are we and what are we doing here? What really matters? Do we matter? Who’s really well off? What makes us happy? Who should we trust? How can we be “good”? How can we change?

We’ve been given directions. Are we paying attention?

The Most Intimate Relationship

By: Morgan Martin

Jonathan Edwards, from Miscellanies (#183):

Such was the love of the Son of God to the human nature, that he desired a most near and close union with it, something like the union in the persons of the Trinity, nearer than there can be between any two distinct [beings]. This moved him to make the human become one with him, and himself to be one of mankind that should represent all the rest, for Christ calls us brethren and is one of us.

How should [we] be encouraged, when we have such a Mediator! 'Tis one of us that is to plead for us, one that God from love to us has received into his own person from among us.

And 'tis so congruous that it should be so, and is also so agreeable to the Scripture, that it much confirms in me the truth of the Christian religion.

Come Let Us Reason

By: Jim Umlauf

In the book of Isaiah, God gives his prophet a vision concerning the downward moral spiral of Israel. In the first chapter, surrounded by warning and righteous accusation, God says something very interesting: “Come let us reason together…” Though the message is immediately to a rebellious nation Israel, that statement tells us something about redemption.

Though the Christian faith requires just that—faith—at the same time we do not suspend rational thought. While we do believe in an unseen God who is spirit, we can see some of his attributes in the world around us. Though we can’t see a giant courtroom in the sky, there is a pressing need for justice deep in our being. Though there is great beauty in life, love, family, country, and work, we know that all of the good has been somehow negatively affected, so that the world is a sad caricature of itself.

The virgin birth. Wow. That’s quite a thing to believe. Oh, and God coming to earth and taking on a human nature and body. Not to mention Jesus’ healings, control over the created order, and his resurrection from the dead. Yes, those are things that require faith (glad God gives it as a gift!). But come, let us reason together.

God’s nature is so pure that the sinless heavenly beings shield themselves in joyful wonder. They cheer his attributes when in his presence. Any impurity is instantly jettisoned from God because his eyes and nature cannot receive it. In fact, God—limited only by his own perfections—MUST judge sin, thus he is a consuming fire.

Why does he love sinners? I don’t know. They’re dirty, but he acts in love by sending Jesus, the very righteousness of God. Instead of pouring out consuming fire on sinners, he pours it out on Jesus, so that sinners may be as clean as Christ, and Christ would be as guilty as us. The wages of sin is death, and Jesus paid the wages. He then rose from the dead, victorious, exalted, and gloriously reigning over those he paid for forever.

So, come let us reason together. Though we do believe in that which is unseen, we can at least grasp the elements of justice, debt, and redemption.

Then again, why, oh why, does God love the sinner!?

God Doesn't Change with the Kaleidoscope of Your Life

By: Kim Killebrew

God’s immutability, unchangeableness... It is certainly not the characteristic I consider most often. Love, grace, kindness, justice, even wrath might come to mind before I contemplate his unchangeableness. However, the other day that changed for just a moment...

How often is life likened to a kaleidoscope? Probably a tiresome amount. However, it is a rather apt comparison. As the position of the tiny objects inside change even the most miniscule amount, the pictures change quite dramatically. A kaleidoscope is created to change, and sometimes change seems to be the one constant in life, too. Businesses rise and fall quarterly. The stock market soars and plummets hourly. My kids grow older and seem to enter new stages daily. And I keep waiting for the week when I will have that predictable schedule, but it never seems to come. Life moves so quickly and each of us must adapt and flex as the changes just keep on coming.

About two weeks ago, the kaleidoscope of our family life changed signifcantly. A bit of news, not bad news but certainly unexpected, suddenly brought our lives into a new focus. However, the very day we received this unexpected twist of life, I was teaching my kids about God’s unchangableness. If you didn’t know, this year’s crop of Scripture songs is focused on the attributes of God. And in God’s providence, as I was grieving this news, I was singing and putting dance steps to James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Oh how I praise him for that sweet promise! No variation or even a shadow of change. He is perfect and his perfection is unchanging! It is nearly incomprehensible. When it seems that life’s only constant is change, I am reminded that he NEVER changes. He is really the only constant. Is there any greater comfort in life?

It’s amazing, isn’t it, how only God can order our lives, turn our own kaleidoscopes and bring another picture into view? Just the tiniest changes can shift the position of an entire family. So, now with a new perspective, I begin to make plans and set schedules to order our new life. Yet, I know that it’s just for a little while. It won’t be long before another signifcant change comes and reshapes the order, the picture. But even when my view seems to go pear-shaped, I KNOW that God’s view is clear as a bell, and I can trust him. So, I choose to trust him. May he strengthen my faith - and yours - so that we will continue to trust him now and all the days of our lives.

Beauty Testifies to Truth

By: Johnny Coggin

This is such a fantastic illustration of why we as Christians must view everything we do as a testifying witness for or against the truth of the gospel of Christ.

From an interview with N.D. Wilson:

Trevin Wax: Why is it important that we seek to communicate truth in persuasive and artistically powerful ways?

Nate Wilson: It is important that we communicate well (in ways that resonate artistically as well as theologically) because it adds a great deal of persuasive force—a sort of aesthetic affirmation and enticement to believe what is being said.

As a simple example, imagine being taken over to some family’s home and being told in advance that this family had really tapped into a deeper and truer and more beautiful way of relating to each other. But then, when the front door opens, all you smell are stale socks and a little pyramid of cat poo that’s lurking in the corner. The smell itself is already an argument against everything you’ve been told about these people, and anything they might have to say to you. But imagine if that door opens and you get hit with the smell of baking bread—you are now prepared to react differently. This is not to say that the wonderful smell establishes truth all on its own, but it is a testifying witness.

And this issue goes a lot further than mere pragmatic examples of efficacy in persuasion. If we Christians have the truth, and that truth is beautiful—more beautiful than any other message or religion out there—and then we present it in stammering, clumsy, irreverent, or ugly ways, well, we’re hypocrites. We’re living unfaithfully to the Truth. But if we live in a state of celebration and joy and gratitude, and if our words and our art and our presentations of that truth hit people like the smell of baking bread, then we’re getting somewhere.

Let's bake some bread, y'all.

Fast & Slow

By: John Ottley

…my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger… - James 1:19

"Two ears are given to us, the rabbis observe, but only one tongue; the ears are open and exposed, whereas the tongue is walled in behind the teeth."

One of the things I love about Grace Evan is the privilege of working with people who inspire me. Here are a couple of examples…

Last week, Chris Leuck told me about a recent conversation. A

couple of minutes into the account he calmly said the person had “actually kinda irritated” him but that “just this morning” he’d read in 1 Timothy 5 about being respectful toward those who are older. Chris had been “quick to hear” Paul’s exhortation to young men. God’s Word had made an impression on him. This in turn made an impression on me. I was impressed with his restraint and respect—even when his toes had been stepped on.

Later that day, Johnny Coggin related a conversation in which somebody had come across as impatient and somewhat pushy. He wondered if his being much younger than that person had had something to do with it. I was impressed with the way he responded. Patient. Gentle. Self-controlled.

These guys weren’t ranting or blowing off steam. They’d both kept their cool during conversations that had pressed into their comfort zones. I revisited these interactions with both of them before writing this. The conversations they’d had weren’t easy for them. It wasn’t a case of “no big deal.” They’d been provoked but they were quick to hear and slow to anger rather than the other way round.

I admire this ability to stay cool when the heat’s on. I was impressed that they both chose a calm response rather than yield to the natural reaction to “give it right back” when they were with someone whose composure was leaking. I’m glad I get to work with guys with character like this.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. - Proverbs 10:19

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. - Proverbs 14:29

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. - Proverbs 15:18

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. - Proverbs 17:27

What Do You Desire?

By: Scott Elliott

I wake up every morning with a hidden agenda – or should I say a subconscious one. As soon as my feet hit the floor (and sometimes much earlier) my mind is already racing on the things I need, plan, and desire to do for that day. Whether I recognize it or not, every behavior (in thought or deed) that I perform is an attempt to obtain the things I desire or treasure.

If I don’t stop and ask God to direct my heart (and therefore my actions) my own sinful self will take over. As James reminds us, we are “dragged away and enticed” by our own sinful desires (James 1:14).

Paul Tripp in his book, Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands, also makes note of three principles that sum up the battle between our heart and what we treasure:

1) Everyone seeks some kind of treasure.

2) Your treasure will control your heart.

3) What controls your heart will control your behavior.

Ok, so everyone seeks some kind of treasure – that is a given. Are you being careful in what you seek? Is your behavior being guided and filtered through God’s eyes and hands?

Do you let your treasure control your heart, or vice versa? “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Does your behavior reflect your heart? I am a people watcher and I often ask the questions, “Why do people do the things they do? Why do they react the way they do? Why are they wearing that particular outfit? What is the desire in their heart to make them react and behave in that way?" Knowing that I should be asking myself the same questions!

The desires of our heart wage a war amongst each other and thus the battle begins. The desire soon becomes a demand – the demand becomes a need – the need leads to expectations – the expectations lead to disappointment - which leads to punishment.

Ask God to guard your heart today from the evil desires. Ask him to direct your path and your thoughts. He desires the best for you! What do you desire?

Stay Thirsty, My Friend

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

Surely you know that the first king of Israel was not David. It was Saul, and his story is one of “starting well, but…”

Early on, Saul appeared to be “just what the doctor ordered.” But it wasn’t long before Samuel was confronting Saul and informing him that his days were numbered (I Samuel 13:13-14). His replacement was a nobody from Bethlehem, whose name lives in infamy, David.

Recently, I was reading of the transition from Saul to David, and a statement was made in I Chronicles 10:13 that took me aback. The chronicler points to a “breach of faith” as the reason for Saul’s downfall. Think about that! A breach of faith. What is that? The details aren’t as scary as the possibility of my committing one of those myself.

I guess I could list some things that would constitute a “breach.” Better yet, stay thirsty my friend… thirsty for God and His Word… thirsty for obedience… thirsty for God’s glory. Oh, might it never be said of us that we were guilty of a “breach.”

Far Better Than All My Fears

By: Morgan Martin

I am not a big worrier. I am usually very go with the flow and laid back… but that isn’t always the case. If I let myself start thinking about future things, my mind starts wondering and planning. I suddenly turn into a control freak and begin to go crazy trying to work and plan towards what I feel is best for me.

I am so thankful that I don’t have to take control of my life and the future. I am so thankful that I have a God that is big enough that He can guide, direct, and lead me to what is HIS plan for my life. All I need to do is cling to HIM. Today, I was encouraged by this word from Spurgeon:

He was better to me than all my hopes,

He was better than all my fears;

He made a bridge of my broken works,

and a rainbow of my tears.

The stormy waves that marked my ocean path,

did carry my Lord on their crest;

When I dwell on the days of my wilderness march

I can lean on His love for the rest.

He emptied my hands of my treasured store,

and His covenant love revealed,

there was not a wound in my aching heart,

the balm of His breath has not healed.

Oh, tender and true was His discipline sore,

in wisdom, that taught and tried,

till the soul that He sought was trusting in Him,

and nothing on earth beside.

He guided my paths that I could not see,

by ways that I have not known;

the crooked was straight, and the rough was plain

as I followed the Lord alone.

I praise Him still for the pleasant palms,

and the desert streams by the way,

for the glowing pillar of flame by night,

and the sheltering cloud by day.

Never a time on the dreariest day,

but some promise of love endears;

I read from the past, that my future will be

far better than all my fears.

The Lord of Compassion

By: Chris Leuck

In Mark 6, we find that Jesus has called his disciples and sent them out, two by two, to the surrounding villages. His charge: Take nothing with you… do not worry about what you will eat or where you will sleep… go and preach the gospel of grace and repentance to everyone you encounter. If they will not receive you, shake it off and keep going.

Upon their return, both Jesus and the disciples must be completely “spent.” After all, the disciples have just returned from a long journey of preaching, persecution, and performing miracles, staying with strangers and eating only as food was available. And by this point, Jesus’ nomadic ministry has also been underway for quite some time. Tired and hungry… it is time to rest. Jesus says, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”

The next series of events is amazing to me. As they went away to rest, relax, and replenish, the crowds “saw where they were going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them” (Mark 6:33). I can just feel the frustration mounting.

Don’t we all tend to be a bit more irritable when we are tired and hungry?

All the disciples want is a little down time, but here come the NEEDY people… in droves! They look to Jesus and say, “C’mon man! It is getting late… ‘Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat’ (6:36). Get them out of here… We can’t handle this right now.” All the disciples want is a little down time!

What does Jesus say? “No, they are hungry… let’s feed them” (paraphrase). If ever there was a time for Jesus to respond in anger and frustration, this is it. He has gone away to rest and enjoy food and fellowship with his disciples. But they are rudely interrupted by thousands of NEEDY people.

What does Jesus do? He saw the great crowd and “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” When anger and frustration may have been warranted, Jesus had compassion. He fed the five thousand.

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassionate hearts…” (Colossians 3:12)

Holy Scripture, Batman!

By: John Ottley

Todd McDevitt of Ellwood City, PA saved his money for over 20 years. For a comic book. He saved his money for a comic book and, when he found the right one, with great joy he went and bought that comic. He bought one of the most valuable comic books in all the land-- a near-mint condition copy of Detective Comics Vol. 1, No. 27, “The Case of the Criminal Syndicate,” introducing, for the very first time… Batman!

Mr. McDevitt said the issue is worth about $250,000. McDevitt’s “comic of great price” now lies in state in an airtight bag in a bank vault. Sometimes he takes it out to show customers and friends. “I’ve been toying with the idea of reading it, but I haven’t yet,” he said. $250,000 for a comic book. An unread comic book.

In the Psalms, David said God’s Word is “more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold” (119:72). Those reading this will agree with David that, in light of eternity, comparing God’s Word to Batman is, well, comical. King David didn’t just pull the Torah out every once in a while to impress the royal entourage. He read it. He thought about it. He wrote poems and worship songs about God’s glorious Word. He measured every aspect of his life by it.

Those who regard God’s Word (both written and incarnate) as more valuable than “silver and gold”—or the original Batman comic book-- will take the time to read it, feed on it, pray it and obey it. May God give us all an ever increasing passion for Holy Scripture!

Depression and Reminders

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

A story is told of Charles Spurgeon, who was subject to black bouts of depression. One time he felt so crushed in spirit that he simply could not carry on with his commitments in his home church. Hurriedly he arranged for another pastor to fill in for him and then left town for the weekend. That Sunday he attended a tiny country church, where the sermon that was preached had such a dramatic effect upon him that immediately his depression lifted and he felt totally refreshed and eager to return to his ministry. At the door he introduced himself to the young, unknown preacher, thanking and praising him mightily. The poor man seemed dreadfully embarrassed, however, and finally he had to confess that the sermon he had just preached was in fact one of Spurgeon’s own.

I guess there are two things I would like to say about that story. First, do you see how necessary is the ministry of community… the task of “one-anothering”?

Second, sometimes all we need is someone to remind us of things we already know and believe.

Do You Hear The People Sing?

By: Erin Pearce

I know we all have certain seasons of life, but I feel like I have several friends, family members, etc. who are going through some extremely difficult situations. I am reminded in these moments how important it is to have community. Think about when you have gone through something so gut wrenching, that it makes it hard to think clearly about the situation. How beneficial is it for us to have people around us that know the truth and will speak the truth to us in these crisis situations. We are all fighting for something. Hopefully we are fighting to glorify the Lord and bring truth and light into dark places. As I watched Les Miserables last night, my soul was moved as I saw people band together to sing about their crusade. What an impact we could make if we joined together to push back the curse.

Check out these lyrics and think of the sin we fight, how Jesus paid for our sins and made us free and that heaven awaits us.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight

That will give you the right to be free!

Longing for Home

By: Kim Killebrew

I love having a busy home. We have four kids of our own and get to live in a neighborhood with many, many more. There are kids in and out of my door all of the time. It’s lots of fun, and I love it! I especially love spend-the-nights! Movies, pallets, flashlight tag, night swimming, pizza, and special breakfasts! Fun, fun, fun! However, with all of this activity, there’s bound to be an issue or two.

Since my kids range in age from 10 down to 5, the 5 year old doesn’t know that he’s only 5. He wants to actively participate in all of the “big kid” stuff, too - especially the spend-the-night ritual. So when it’s his turn to ask someone, I try to limit it to a friend that lives close to home. Of course, you know why. Most five year olds are not ready to spend the night away from home, and it’s much easier to walk them across the street than drive them around town late at night when they are ready to go.

The other night we had one of these experiences. My son, Ben, invited “John” over to spend the night. Both boys were so excited and couldn’t wait to enjoy their movie-watching, cookie-eating time together. Well, around 9 o’clock “John” decided he was ready to go. So he sneaked away and called his dad for rescue. No persuasion from the Killebrews could convince him that he was as safe and sound at our house as he would be at home. He just wanted his Daddy. By 10 o’clock “John” was out the door and back home with his mom and dad in his own home.

As I thought about “John” the next day, I wondered about my own heart. Why doesn’t my heart ache like “John’s” for my heavenly father? How peaceful, reassuring, encouraging, and comforting it is for me to be with the Lover of my Soul. It is where I belong, and yet I dare to go a day or more without spending time in the word, praising God’s name, and worshipping him? I was made to worship him. There is nothing that should take precedence over that.

I hope and pray that each year my heart will be drawn more and more to my heavenly Father’s, just like “John’s” was to his earthly father’s.

9/11 and Your Feelings

By: Jim Umlauf

In these last days leading up to the ten-year anniversary of the attacks on New York and the Pentagon, there’s a New York Times interactive map of where people were when they heard the news. Along with pinpointing one’s location, one must choose one of the following current emotions: angry, fearful, hopeful, secure, or unmoved.

As Christians, we might (aside from being unmoved) feel some of each of those things.

Anger: The reason we feel such things is there’s an ultimate standard of justice that’s not merely the byproduct of cultural mores. Jesus was angry without sinning because the rightful use of his Father’s house was being desecrated. God himself is angry about sin; the theological term is “righteous indignation.” It’s ok to feel that about 9/11, as long as we remember that justice is the LORD’s to be meted out.

Fear: It’s a scary world. Sin makes it that way. We also live with the reality that we’re all terminally ill patients—in other words, we will all physically die. The Bible speaks many times of the fear of the LORD. That’s not a cowering, craven fear. Rather, it’s the healthy, wonderful fear that trumps all other fears. The idea is, if we view God as he truly is, and relate to him in Christ as sons and daughters, no ultimate harm can possibly befall us. It’s a happy fear, and the beginning of knowledge.

Hope: If all we did was keep a positive attitude, or try to cloak our hearts in an isolated concept of hope, it would be empty indeed. The great thing about a truly biblical faith is that there’s an object. (It would be more accurate to write, “Object.”) We believe in a living, reigning, real, historical Christ. Because he has defeated sin and death, and now rules dynamically and forever, we can—by his substitutionary curse-bearing on our behalf—be hopeful and free. We have been rescued from sin’s bondage and the heavy weight on our consciences, and also look forward to the hope beyond this life.

Secure: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Not even the most scary, rattling, tear-producing, tumultuous, darkest of sins. Or a terrorist attack.

How to Celebrate Justice

By: Jim Umlauf

The video below is a compact message about the death of Osama bin Laden, and the way a Christian can reconcile the celebration of justice with loving one’s enemies.

VIDEO: Is it ok to be happy about the death of Osama bin Laden? (Jim Umlauf)

A Humble Clergy

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

Pastors need to avoid the Pastoral Epistles. Those are the Pauline letters to some guys who were laboring alongside him in the gospel ministry. You would think that those books would be uniquely helpful to pastors, and they are. But my advice is… avoid them.

Why? That can only be asked by someone who hasn’t read them. In II Timothy alone, there are so many injunctions that expose our pastoral failures. Things like: “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace (2:22)”; “…always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (4:5).”

Of the eight injunctions in those two verses, all eight of them slay me. My point, I think, is this: all of us so-called clergy types have very little to be high-minded about. So, in the face of those and other reminders, the need of the hour is a humble clergy. Anything other than that borders on the irrational.

Why Christians Should Be the Hardest Workers Around

By: Brent Wilkins

Work, and the ability to do so, is a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us that “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Obviously that includes work. We are to work with all our might out of gratitude to God, for his glory and for our own good. Our hard work can also be a witness to those around us. It communicates something not only about who we are but whose we are.

If you’ve been around me for very long, you know that I am a Nebraska Husker football fan, so please oblige me and forgive the illustration. Husker running backs coach Ron Brown has twenty-seven former pupils who have gone on to pro football careers. However, Brown does more than prepare them for the next level of play… his passion is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and preparing young men for life. Brown has a number of Christian athletes, one of them being running back Rex Burkhead. Last week a reporter asked Brown about Burkhead and what makes him the ideal role model for the other players. Here was Brown’s answer:

Rex is a great Christian kid, and there are a lot of Christian kids who are brought up to think that a good Christian football player needs to be a good sport that doesn't use bad language, gets to bed on time and doesn't drink or smoke… but the reality of it is Jesus has called us to glorify Him out on the field. I really believe the Christian athlete ought to be the toughest, most intense, most relentless player on the field - the one who doesn't give up, is the most courageous player and the hardest working guy out there.

I don’t know about you, but that motivates me. As a Christian we should be the hardest working guy/gal out there. Our hard work does not result in justification or salvation, but as God enables us, it can bring glory to his name and be a witness to the world around us.

Lessons in Prayer from Romania

By: Johnny Coggin

Ever wondered what you could learn about prayer from Christians in Romania? Me either, till today. But I'm glad I read this article, and hope it will encourage you and give you fresh (international!) perspective on the importance of prayer.

What Romanian Believer's Taught Me About Prayer

Text Message

By: Chris Leuck

I received this text message from a dear friend this morning. It has been deeply encouraging to me and I hope it will be the same for you:

“This morning, as I think about the Holy Scriptures and my ineptness… my lack of knowledge, my overall pitiful status, and just how insignificant I am in the whole scheme of things… it’s a real pity party. THEN, Christ shows up and reveals the Gospel to me again as though I had never heard it before. I mean, I’m on my knees in tears and I can’t even shout out “I love you, Jesus” without choking up… a 51 year old man sobbing like a baby. I began to see again the absolute power of the Gospel. He shows me that He is my wisdom… I don’t have to prove anything. I don’t have to accomplish anything. I am free of all worldly perspective and expectations. I am free in Christ. He is my love, my desire, my significance, and my motivation. This IS the power of the Gospel. Let’s pray that the Gospel is at the heart of everything we say, think, and do. I seem to forget that so often.”

So do I.

Dealing with Injustice

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

One of the harder things to stomach, for all of us, is being the victim of injustice. We clamor for justice with statements like, “That’s not fair,” or “That is so wrong.” The fact is, our cry for justice is a dangerous thing, because what we really want is mercy for us, and justice for “them.” Don’t ever ask for justice; you may just get it.

That longing for justice is a fundamental proof of God’s existence, because if there is no God, justice will never be done. But one principle often overlooked in this pursuit of justice is found in I Corinthians 6:7. Paul, dealing with Christians suing other Christians, simply asks, “Why not rather be defrauded (wronged)?” It is often better to suffer wrong than it is to fight for justice.

Oh, how principles like these take a bite out of my flesh. And, very likely, that was God’s intent in authoring my “unjust” circumstance. I've still got a long ways to go. Boy, do I need a Savior.

The Gospel and Worship

By: Johnny Coggin

Worship is very frequently a legalistic activity (e.g. "You are right with God if you go to church for worship," and, conversely, "You aren't if you don't"). Oh sure, you don't think you're a legalist. I don't generally believe I am either. But I can almost guarantee that we both fall into this kind of false thinking from time to time, if not every single week when gathering with the local church to worship God.

Do you ever have a subtle sense that God is pleased with you because you were just worshiping so deeply? Or that he is disappointed with you because your heart "wasn't in it" during worship, or perhaps because you were distracted with a wandering mind, lustful thoughts, or judgmental attitudes? I know I feel this way sometimes! And it's utterly unbiblical.

The problem here is a failure to remember and apply the gospel. Yes, even in worship. Heck, especially in worship! Genuine worship must be rooted in the gospel.

Here are a few quotes from a recent article in TableTalk called "The Gospel and Worship." I strongly encourage you to take a moment to read the entire article.

"The gospel takes the natural, worldly view that worship is a person justifying himself by reaching up to God and corrects it with the truth that worship is a person responding to the God who has reached down through the gospel of Jesus Christ."

"God made our hearts, and He made them to find their greatest joy and satisfaction in Himself... worship begins with an understanding of the gospel."

"We also need the gospel during worship in part because of the sins we commit in worship. We may sing, speak, or pray thoughtlessly or hypocritically in various moments of worship. The application of the gospel to our minds and hearts in worship encourages us that our sins during worship are forgiven and that the Lord receives us even though our worship is imperfect."

"The gospel reminds us that our worship, although flawed, is acceptable — not because of what we do or how well we do it, but because of what Christ did for us. He made worshipers out of rebels, and because our worship comes to the Father in Jesus’ name, He sanctifies our worship to make it pleasing to the Father."

Read the full article here.

Are You Prepared?

By: Erin Pearce

Andy and I are in a stage where we just love life. We feel so overwhelmingly blessed right now in this year and a half of marriage we have experienced. We often wonder aloud to each other, “I wonder what the Lord has in store for us?” We know the Lord has a plan for us, but oftentimes we don’t think about God’s plan being a route that tests our faith to produce steadfastness and patience, as well as many other marks of a Christian. We are trying more to talk about how we want to learn to glorify God in every situation. We know that things will come to test us, but we want to be prepared.

I’m reading a book called The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink, and this is what he says about two different ways to view life.

"Here is the fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world,' judges everything by worldly standards, views life from the standpoint of time and sense, and weighs everything in the balances of his own carnal making. But the man of faith brings in God, looks at everything from His standpoint, estimates values by spiritual standards, and views life in the light of eternity. Doing this, he receives whatever comes as from the hand of God. Doing this, his heart is calm in the midst of the storm. Doing this, he rejoices in hope of the glory of God."

Andy and I long to be like this man of faith. Being calm in the midst of the storm would be quite unnatural, but possible with the Holy Spirit. I guess you never really know if you are prepared for trials, but don’t you think it would be a good thing to try to prepare for that?

Daniel 11:32b - “...but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

5 Ways to Make God Known at Your Job

By: Johnny Coggin

I realize that my vocation happens to be in the ministry of a church, so this may seem absurd to say. But I (like you I'm sure) struggle at times with questions like, "Is what I'm doing at work really God's will?" or "Does any of this have any real, lasting significance?" Or even, "Is God glorified and made known through my efforts?" You may feel the same things from time to time, even if the busy pace of life keeps those thoughts brief and easily rushed away.

I read the following from John Piper's blog at Desiring God yesterday, and felt like his 5 brief points gave me something to "hang my hat on" in this area. See if they help you find significance in the "small" things of your work, whether it's in a corporate office or raising kids at home.

I have in mind at least five things—five ways to make God known through your secular job and all of them are important. When one of them is missing, the witness to the truth of Christ suffers.

1. The excellence of the products or services you render in your job shows the excellence and greatness of God.

2. The standards of integrity you follow at your job show the integrity and holiness of God.

3. The love you show to people in your job shows the love of God.

4. The stewardship of the money you make from your job shows the value of God compared to other things.

5. The verbal testimony you give to the reality of Christ shows the doorway to all these things in your life and their possibility in the lives of others.

Think About These Things

By: Jim Umlauf

I hesitate to cite Amy Winehouse because there are some explicit lyrics in her songs that most readers of a church blog would certainly not approve of. What grants a little license, I think, is the obvious irony of her best known song, “Rehab.”

What happened to her is a lesson to us. Independent wealth meant she had no financial concerns. Rock star status meant no moral boundaries. Everyone she kept close to her in life said, “yes.” In essence, she got anything she wanted whenever she wanted it, and that’s a recipe for disaster. It really got me thinking: Are we, as fallen image bearers of our Creator, trying, due to sin, to ultimately destroy ourselves? When one overeats, it’s not mounds of carrots and baby spinach. It’s stuff that’s particularly bad for the human body in bulk.

As Christians, we have spiritual life where there was none before. We are a new creation, with a new hope and a new eternal home. We have the righteousness of Christ imputed to our account. In other words, when God looks at our moral “bank account,” he sees ZERO PERCENT of our sin and mangled attempts at morality, and ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the righteousness of his Son. Those realities eternally safe in the living Christ, there’s still a part of us on this side of heaven that grapples with sin. So how are we to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? How are we to walk in the light as he is in the light? How are we to run the race, keep in step with the Holy Spirit, seek first the Kingdom of God, and renew our minds?

The place to go is where God reveals himself—in his word. The same Holy Spirit who penned it is the same Holy Spirit who breathes life, summons souls, and illumines truth.

Will you join me over the next week to commit to memory my favorite Scripture song, Philippians 4.8? It's number three on the CD, and can also be played below. We’ll sing it together a week from Sunday. Here’s the verse itself:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, thing about these things.

Be Sure to Eat the Right Corn

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

Just got back from Iowa. Ever been there? When you’re flying in, all you can see for miles around is field after field of corn. While there, I learned that there are 3 kinds of corn. There is seed corn; there is feed corn; there is sweet corn. Only one of those is worth eating by us humans. But it all looks like corn.

Truth is like that in a way. Jeremiah, one of my heroes, points that out a lot in his book. One place, which is repeated elsewhere, is chapter 8, verse 11: “They have healed the daughter of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, Peace' when there is no peace.” Who did that? Verse 10 tells us: the prophets and priests.

The professional clergy of Jeremiah’s day was telling people all was well, when all wasn’t well. If given a choice, who wouldn’t want to bring the peace message? But if isn’t true, then the end result is ruin.

Guys, there are lot of truth claims out there, and they all have a ring of truth to them. They all look like corn, but much of it will hurt you if you eat it. There is only one edible corn, one sweet corn, and it is found coming right from God’s mouth. Some of it stings. Some of it warms. But once you swallow it, it will be sweet to the belly. If you eat that other stuff, you’re gonna end up sick… real sick.

Calvin & The True Christian Life

By: Chris Leuck

Excerpts from the “Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life” by John Calvin:

“It is fitting for the faithful Christian to rise up to the level where Christ calls every disciple to 'take up his cross'... all whom the Lord has received into the society of His saints ought to prepare themselves for a life that is hard, difficult, laborious, and full of countless griefs. It is the will of their heavenly Father to try them in this manner that He may test them. He began with Christ, and He pursues this manner with all His children.”

“For Saint Paul tells us that if we ‘know the fellowship of His sufferings’ we shall also understand the ‘power of His resurrection’; and that while we are ‘participating in His death,’ we are also being prepared for sharing His glorious resurrection… the more we are afflicted by adversities, the more surely our fellowship with Christ is confirmed. By this fellowship, the adversities themselves not only become blessings to us, but they are aids to greatly promote our happiness and salvation.”

“The apostle also explains that it was necessary for Christ to ‘learn obedience by the things which we suffered.’ Why then should we free ourselves from that condition to which Christ, our Chief, had to submit, especially since His submission was on our behalf?”

“Indeed, we cannot show any other obedience to Him than the one He has given to us in Christ; but He is pleased in this manner to exhibit and to test the graces which He has conferred on His saints, that they may not remain hidden and become useless.”

Sound crazy?

More simply put: Hey Christian! You can expect that life will be quite difficult, marred by suffering. It is your heavenly Father’s will to try you in this way, to test you. (Do not think about this “test” like the way a child “tests” his parents, but the way a scientist “tests” his hypothesis). Through suffering, God is “testing” His deposit in you, so that it may not remain hidden. He is testing His deposit in you so that it might be revealed and perfected… that you might be conformed into Christ’s image! As you fellowship with Christ in His sufferings, you will further understand the power of the resurrection… while you “participate in His death,” you are being prepared for sharing His resurrection. God does not test you to torment you… your suffering becomes an aid to your happiness and to the completion of His work in you.

When Is Too Much, Too Much?

By: Scott Elliott

We hear it a lot in athletics: “Can you adjust my son’s soccer practice time? It overlaps with his baseball practice, swim lessons, and two basketball games.” I know this happens in many families in other aspects of their lives too, but when is too much, too much?

We all get caught up in our daily lives and somehow forget how to say "no" to all the “things” that are presented to us. Before we know it, our lives are kidnapped by our careers, hobbies and even our kids. When do we fit time in for our Creator? Does He become an after-thought? We end up replenishing our mind and body, but forget our spirit.

Matthew 6 is rich in how Jesus teaches us how to pray, about giving to the needy, and yes, even how to spend our time effectively for His glory. Verses 19-21 teach us about “storing up for yourselves treasures” (using money as the example – but it relates to all things). If our “treasures” are our kids, our hobbies, or our time, then our spiritual vision becomes blocked with what God has planned for us. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (v. 21).

The more we fill our lives (and our families too) with more “stuff”, the less time we have to spend with God. Our intention should be to seek the fulfillment of God’s purposes in all we do, not just in what we do with our money. These “things” will soon become our idols and then our desires will start outweighing our commitment to God and spiritual matters.

As a parent, it's important to evaluate not only what you spend your time doing, but also what your family unit is doing. Do you sometimes find yourself frustrated that the “family dinner time” no longer exists because your daughter has cheerleading practice and your son has a football game? It’s hard, but start learning to say "no" to certain things. I know a parent who has a policy (which I agree with) with each of their kids that they are allowed to participate in only one activity (other than school) per season. This kind of plan can lessen the tension not only for our family, but it also allows our kids to enjoy growing up and still have enough time to spend doing family things, which also includes their spiritual growth.

God wants us to be happy and enjoy life, but keeping ourselves too busy often interferes with our spiritual well-being. Instead of us overloading our daily schedules, maybe we should heed the words of the psalmist: “Be still, and know that I am God.” This will allow us more time to reflect on our lives, spend more precious moments with our families, and spend more time in the word and exalting our Creator.

Providence?

By: Erin Pearce

To be honest, I do not feel you can fully explain God's providence in a short post, but I will offer a few thoughts. Providence is something I’ve been reading about, and isn’t it funny that when you start studying something it seems to pop up all over the place?

Like last night. Andy and I were reading Proverbs 21 and the first verse says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

Doesn’t this suggest that the Lord guides our hearts? I remember being terrified in college, thinking, “what if I make the wrong decision? What if I don’t choose what the Lord REALLY wants me to do?” I remember Les Newsom telling me, “The Lord wants you to serve Him. You can’t step out of His will. Obey Him. Now make a decision and get going.” This provided quite a bit of comfort. And now as I get older, I get it more and more. There is much kingdom work to be done. Decide on something to help push back the curse and get going.

As Dr. Young has been telling us in his recent sermons on Genesis 3, Satan is doing everything he can to cause us to doubt God’s goodness. And it is very hard to trust that God has a plan when things are hard and feel like they are falling apart all around us. I am reminded of Joseph. Think about all the pain and suffering he went through. And yet, we read in Genesis 50:19-20: “But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.' ”

Wherever you are today, remember that God is in control. He has a plan. And no one, nor anything, can thwart this plan. Not even us.

Commitment Move

By: Brent Wilkins

Isaiah 41:10:

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In climbing there is a move one is occasionally required to execute known as the “commitment move.” You are harnessed into a rope which is securely anchored to a strong, trustworthy object. In order to make your next upward move you must commit by letting go of the safe place you’re at and leaping toward the next hand-hold. At that moment there is no turning back and you must fully trust the anchor you’re clipped into… and not trust your feelings of fear.

Life is full of commitment moves.

There are times in the Christian walk when you are faced with a difficult decision and you find yourself asking, “Is God really there? Is his Word really true?” or stating, “I don’t hear him… I don’t feel his presence.” Yet, you do know him. You know that he has always been faithful. You know that he has never forsaken you. So you take that leap of faith, clinging to what you know is true, knowing that God will strengthen you, he will help you, and he will hold you with his righteous right hand.

How to Do God's Will for Your Life

By: Johnny Coggin

Sometimes it's just refreshing (and freeing!) to be reminded of this:

(youtube link)

Are We Peddling or Tampering With God's Word?

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

I was struck earlier this week with a couple of statements made by the Apostle Paul about people who handle God’s Word, of which I am one, and maybe not a very good one at that. He talked about being a “peddler of God’s Word” (II Corinthians 2:17), and two chapters later in 4:2, he spoke of refusing “to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word.”

You can understand, I hope, why statements like that would give me pause. Am I “peddler”? Do I “tamper”? What is a peddler? How does one tamper?

A peddler is one who sells a product for a profit. I do get paid to do what I do. To tamper is to modify or change in subtle ways. So, am I guilty of either of those? I’ll have to let you decide, while I wrestle with God over those matters.

I do know that what I think is tampering with God’s Word, I see in this whole ordaining of women, and, of course, the gay marriage issue. Realizing that my positions on both of those issues are not “politically correct,” I must, nonetheless, speak out against both of those things, because to fail to do so would make me guilty of tampering with something that I’m not supposed to tamper with. I also feel that to cave on issues that I think are clearly denounced in Scripture would mean that I have a tendency to “peddle.”

So, my only solution is to continue to ask God about His Word, and about my heart. That’s all I can offer you. But it might be sound advice for all of us.

Strategic Parenting

By: Jim Umlauf

(If you don't see the video above, click here to watch it on Vimeo.)

A New (Old) Way to Pray

By: Johnny Coggin

From Will Savell's new blog, chronicling his family's journey into a new life of ministry in Costa Rica, and his thoughts along the way:

(On reading Acts 4) "What I noticed... was a boldness and a commitment to truth in the face of persecution. I also noticed what the people prayed, and it had nothing to do with the Lord blessing them with an easier life. They began their prayer with the words, “Sovereign Lord” and they continued to recognize His control and his power. And when it came to supplication, all they wanted was more boldness for proclaiming truth."

If you're interested in seeing the Holy Spirit's power at work in your life and your church, that's a potent way to start. Read the whole thing here. (And subscribe to the Savell's blog while you're there!)

Choose Life

By: Morgan Martin

(Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

Moses said to the Israelites, “You have the choice. You can choose between prosperity and disaster, between life and death... All you have to do is love the Lord. Keep His commands. Walk in His ways.”

That sounds easy right? Moses had just reminded them of the miracles seen with their own eyes... miracles by the Lord. Their sandals and clothes didn’t wear down for 40 years. They had food falling from the sky. All so they would know that He is God.

Yet they still doubted Him.

Moses speaks the truth very clearly here. He makes it sound easy. So why do I constantly struggle to do good? Why do I struggle to love the Lord and keep His commands?

I love how Moses follows this up, saying, “Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the Lord your God and obey Him and commit yourself to him for He is your life.”

I must constantly immerse myself in His Word and be in fellowship with Him and ask the Holy Spirit to help me to choose life. I could witness a miracle one moment, and then doubt the Creator the next. It happens that fast because I am a sinful human. I must relentlessly ask Him to help me to choose life.

True & Better

By: Johnny Coggin

Few can say it like Tim Keller can. Here's my paraphrase: "It's all about Jesus, y'all."

Now listen to Keller fill out that thought... from the entire Bible... in 2 minutes.

(If the video does not appear in your email or RSS feed, watch it here: True & Better.)

The First Step to Restoration

By: Dr. Jimmy Young

I’ve never claimed to be a good counselor. There are many who can attest to the truth of that statement. However, I do my share.

One of the obstacles that I often face in counseling is the time-honored tendency to shift the blame. Adam did it; Eve did it. So, we’ve learned it from the best. But in the counseling setting I work hard at getting people to the place of taking responsibility for their own actions/sin. I want them to own it. No “buts” allowed. I want them to see the truth of what God said often to Israel: "Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you" (Jeremiah 4:18a).

Why? Am I just ornery, or even cruel? Maybe. But I think that this is my motivation. Owning your sin is the first step in repentance. Once I stop blaming anybody and everybody else for what I did, I can then face God in confession.

The great door of hope that we as Christian counselors have to offer is the restoration brought on by Holy Spirit-authored repentance. Granted, there may be consequences of my choices that I still have to face. But the sweetness with my heavenly Father, which is invaluable, can be restored. And the first step to that restoration is when I, in a detailed way, own and confess what I did, and stop blaming anyone or anything else.

It wasn’t my low blood sugar that made me lose my temper. It was my sin.